As new technology continues to shape and evolve the education sector, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a leading tool in this revolution. AI tools are now more accessible than ever before and, in some instances, are increasingly used for lesson planning and resource creation.
Understandably, this shift is raising concerns in schools about its impact on teaching and academic standards. Will it diminish meaningful teaching and dilute academic standards? Or will it be used for good, helping teachers and their students thrive?
At Faria, we believe that AI shouldn’t be rejected on this basis, and the key to its success in education centers around how it’s adopted and used. AI should be used as an assistant, not as a shortcut or a replacement for teaching.
Here, we explore how teachers who embrace AI could achieve high-quality learning experiences and raise standards, rather than compromise them.
If teachers are unsure what they want to achieve from using an AI tool, the AI output will be vague and possibly inaccurate. Educators should have a clear idea of the learning intention and consider any criteria they wish to meet.
Before using an AI tool for teaching assistance, teachers should define:
Once this has been considered and these foundations are in place, teachers are then ready to reach out to AI for support. This ensures they remain in control of teaching decisions rather than relying solely on AI.
For example, rather than prompting AI to “create a worksheet on ecosystems”, a much better prompt would be:
“Create a worksheet for a top set, Year 9 biology class that examines the different ecosystems and the impact of human activities on these ecosystems and biodiversity. Students must be able to explain these processes and be aware of real-world examples of ecological principles in action. At the end, include questions and a short assessment task, which aligns with the national curriculum, to test their understanding.”
This level of clarity not only improves the quality of the AI tool’s output but also ensures the worksheet genuinely serves the teacher’s learning intention.
As with any teacher or student, AI tools respond best to detailed briefs. Teachers who take the time to produce a detailed brief can minimize the risk of poor-quality AI output.
To create a prompt like the example above, teachers can follow this helpful checklist:
With this guidance, teachers can guide the AI tool’s direction and ensure the output is as precise as possible.
No AI-generated content is the finished product and should only be treated as a draft. It should be handled in the same way as any other piece of educational material, with the same level of scrutiny and evaluation.
Here are some simple steps educators should take to ensure the assessment process is robust and thorough:
By following this process, teachers can refine the AI output, tailor it more specifically to their learners, and inject their own professional judgement. This ensures teachers remain at the center of what’s being taught, and that AI is used only as a smart, helpful prompt.
AI must be used as a helpful assistant, not a shortcut. If used successfully, AI will naturally reduce teacher workload without weakening academic standards. There is no need to be lazy with its use or overly reliant on it.
If embraced correctly, educators could focus on high-value teaching tasks and face-to-face learning, rather than getting bogged down in admin and repetitive worksheets.
To help build a culture where AI supports professionalism in schools, rather than undermining it, teachers should look to adopt the following mindset:
With careful implementation, AI could unlock smarter teaching and raise standards, revealing gaps in lesson planning, improving curriculum coherence, and inspiring new approaches to education.
The key for teachers is knowing why they are using AI, what they expect from it, and how it relates to their teaching objectives. In doing so, AI could strengthen teaching, rather than replacing it.
This sentiment is at the heart of everything we do at Faria. Our suite of AI tools is designed to give educators more time to focus on learners while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and quality.
Using our person-centred technology and learning solutions, we aim to redefine education for schools, educators, and learners worldwide.
