AI tools to help teachers simplify lesson planning

Any good teacher wants to meet the needs of each individual student, but, all too often that can feel impossible with limited time and resources. As we all know – teaching a diverse group of learners with different abilities and interests is one of the most challenging aspects of the job!

As teachers, we should be primarily focused on our students and their learning. Anyone who has done the job though knows there are a number of other responsibilities that can distract from these priorities. AI tools for teachers are in their infancy and the education world needs to leverage this emerging trend to the max. Our students deserve it.

Technology is constantly hailed as the way to ‘revolutionise education’ by saving time and making learning more efficient. That promise has largely fallen short, but AI may offer the best chance yet to make those goals come to life. 

How AI is transforming the way teachers can plan lessons

I recently read an article by Jaime Casap, former Chief Education Evangelist (what a cool job title) for Google, that colourfully argued that using AI in education without questioning or redesigning the outdated model that most schools are built on is “…like strapping a … turbo engine to a horse’s ass and expecting an efficient and effective road trip across the country. (Casap, 2025).”

Unfortunately, there appears to be a major gap between how artificial intelligence transforms the way teachers plan lessons, and the way it can transform this process. The goal of this article is to help you see the enormous possibilities that extend well beyond saving time. 

If we, as educators, approach this new opportunity with the right mindset, lesson planning will not only become more efficient and effective but it can also lead to fundamental shifts in the learning experience for students. The things we ask our students to do and the ways in which they can demonstrate mastery can be completely upended from the traditional factory model that has been in place for far too long now.

Notice that I used the word ‘opportunity’ as currently it is much too easy to see AI as a ‘threat’ to the teaching profession. Instead, we need to see it as an avenue for educators to realistically create the learning environment that we know better serves our students. 

Imagine being able to design and implement lessons that are project-based, student-centerd, and cross-curricular without having to be an expert in any of those areas. AI can act as your secret support weapon to turn your goals into a reality by overcoming some of those common roadblocks that limit innovation.

I was however reminded of the “Garbage in, garbage out” concept at an industry conference the other day by the co-founder of a cybersecurity startup. We were discussing the role of AI in the workplace and how schools can support this transformation. He reminded us that the inputs are critical to the results, no matter the task.

If we ask ChatGPT for a lesson plan for algebra students learning the quadratic equation we are likely to get something that is eerily similar to what might accompany the maths textbook. These models are trained on the information that humans have created in the past. 

A simple prompt will spit out a time saving lesson. A nuanced and intentional approach, though, can transform the learning experience for students in different ways.

The rest of this article is meant to help you truly transform lesson planning so that the tasks and goals align with the skills students will need to succeed in a world that is being shaped by artificial intelligence. 

If you just want quick lessons with minimal work, there is no need to read on. If you want to create the learning experiences you have always dreamed of, but do not want to sacrifice every spare moment of your life in that pursuit, then this is the place for you.

Benefits of using AI tools for teachers

There are a number of benefits when it comes to using AI tools for teachers and the list is growing by the day. Plus, most of the benefits are student-focused so any advantages you get as a teacher directly impact the learning opportunities for students. 

Here are some of the advantages of AI I am most excited about:

Future ready

Utilising AI in the classroom helps us keep up with a rapidly evolving world and even more importantly, ensure students develop the skills they will need in the workforce. 

According to the World Economic Forum, AI will disrupt nearly every industry and shift the skills required from workers across the globe.

Personalisation

Differentiated instruction is a beautiful concept that rarely gets implemented appropriately due to time constraints. 

AI can help you create alternative assignments or supports based on specific individual criteria.

Curriculum-aligned

Keep this a secret, but I have always dreaded specifying the curriculum links for every lesson or activity. 

AI takes the hassle away and ensures your lesson plans correspond with the standards of your choosing.

Fresh perspectives

We are creatures of habit and after we have taught a specific subject we can get stuck in our ways. Brand new curriculum or projects sound like a great idea until we get buried under a mountain of other responsibilities. 

AI can help spark creative ideas and provide a starting point to build on.

Time

I intentionally saved this one for last because AI requires an investment of time in order to reap the benefits. 

For myself, I am not ‘saving’ time at this point of my journey with AI. 

I am noticing that I am using my time differently so that I can minimize the mundane tasks that drain my joy for teaching and focus more on the uniquely human aspects of the profession that amplify learning.

The beauty of using AI tools for teachers is that you can tailor the benefits to what is most important to you. There are so many different cases, so decide what you need or want the most, and then employ the right tools to get you there.

Popular AI tools for lesson planning (with examples)

Seemingly everyday a new AI tool for teachers pops up on the market, or a new feature is announced for a current tool. I find it incredibly exciting but I do often feel overwhelmed and also do not feel the need to (or have the time to!) try every one of them out. 

My experience with using AI for lesson planning was supercharged last autumn when I found out two weeks into the year that I was teaching a class I had never taught before. I love project-based learning with an emphasis on career skills, so I could not simply turn to a standard curriculum that comes with a textbook. 

I was panicking and could not wrap my head around creating an entirely new curriculum without any time to prepare. I asked ChatGPT to create a “term schedule for a secondary school citizenship lessons that were built around four major projects and required collaboration and professional presentation skills.” 

Less than 30 seconds later I had an 18-week outline that reduced my anxiety and allowed me to focus on the individual lessons that could make this idea a reality. 

It was not a plug and play result but it was a critical starting point that allowed me to feel confident that I could design the type of course I believe in even with some difficult constraints.

Since that early success I have been steadily exploring different AI tools that can help me create custom lesson plans that fit my style of teaching and reach the needs of my students. 

Here are some of my favourite ones so far:

1) ChatGPT: best for creating lessons from scratch

Let’s start with probably the most well known. It is user friendly and you can generate usable lessons within minutes. My colleague and I used it throughout the year to create a brand new algebra scheme of work

We fed in the curriculum and clarified that we wanted the resulting activities to have real-world applications that helped students build professional skills.

2) Canva: Best for lessons involving visuals and digital media

This tool has been my go to for so many different uses and I just started using some of the AI features. My classes are very visual so I want to use lessons that incorporate different types of media and get my students creating.

Canva’s Magic Write tool allows you to create beautiful lesson plans that are written for students so you can import them straight into your class website or Learning Management System.

My favourite part though is that you can also use the AI features to create templates for students to use. For example, if you have a lesson about the British Isles, you can create a custom map for students to work on and add the information you want.

3) Perplexity: Best for modifying or changing existing lesson plans

Have you ever come across that amazing lesson plan online that you want to use but it does not quite fit what you need and it feels like too much work to customise? Perplexity may be the answer you have been looking for.

Perplexity allows you to upload an existing lesson plan and then request specific modifications or adjustments. What I really love is that it lists things to consider changing that you may not have even had in mind.

This year I dusted off a lesson plan I created during my first year of teaching but had not used in years. It was ugly and created with software I no longer use. I asked Perplexity to modernise the materials and just like that I had a new and improved investment simulation game to use while learning about the Great Depression.

4) Diffit: Best for differentiation of learning materials

Diffit is the only tool on this list that I have not personally used with my own students but I know a number of teachers that have been really impressed with the results so far. The tool aims to provide “just right” instructional materials that meet students where they are at academically.

This is a great resource for when you have a very specific learning goal and/or resource you are trying to use, but it is either at a year level that is different from your students, or you have a range of ability levels in your class.

Whether it is videos or articles, you can quickly align the content to the level of your students and then it will also generate some basic comprehension activities that correspond to the content. The activities are a little too routine for me but I love that it makes new content from a variety of sources that you find online accessible to students at any level.

Start by identifying what is really important to you when it comes to lesson planning. 

Use the right tool for the right job. 

If you are still stuck on how to proceed, think about your least favourite part of lesson planning. 

Then grab the tool that minimises that pain. 

I am guessing you do not have a personal assistant to help with day to day tasks? If you invest some time exploring AI tools for teachers it could start feeling like you do! I think every teacher could benefit from that little extra support.

Tips for integrating AI into your teaching workflow

If you watch the news or have a LinkedIn feed similar to mine, artificial intelligence feels like it is everywhere and affecting everything. This is marketed as the way of the future but can make you feel behind and create the impression that it is moving too fast to ever catch up. 

Let’s reframe the situation and realize our goal is not to keep up with AI – that is a losing battle. Instead, approach it as a way to pursue continuous development that can offer extreme returns on investment, if done correctly. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when adding AI tools for teachers to your workflow:

1) Start small

Try using AI for just one aspect of your planning, such as generating discussion questions or introductory activities. 

Learn new tools by refining the way you approach a limited amount of tasks rather than trying to explore everything it can do.

2) Build a team

Partner with colleagues to share ideas and resources just like you would with other parts of the job. 

There are very few actual ‘AI experts’ out there (even though a lot of people are branding themselves that way) so exploring this topic as a group can build confidence.

3) AI for AI

I know it sounds silly but do not be afraid to ask AI for ideas of how to get started. Remember to include your current comfort level and what you want to get out of it. 

4) Constant reflection

Just like with any teaching tool, analyse how AI-generated materials are working in your classroom. 

Include your students in this reflection and embrace an approach of constant iteration.

5) Proceed with caution

This technology is still in its infancy and we need to apply a healthy dose of scepticism when utilising AI-generated content. 

Check for accuracy and bias by inspecting sources. (Check out a recent report issued by a prominent health agency that may be a case of AI gone wrong…). 

Try to approach the process like you would if you were trying to get in shape for running a marathon. Understand it as a journey, you will add new elements along the way, and can lean on your support system when things feel overwhelming. 

Do not try to run 26 miles on your first day!

Encouraging responsible and balanced use of AI in education

I have been in education for 2 decades now and every time something new pops up we get stuck in identifying ‘best practices.’ While I understand the intent, I think we risk missing out on the innovative capacity of constantly evolving tools if we need clear cut guidelines on how to proceed.

One of the really fun (and scary) aspects of using AI in the classroom is that we are learning right alongside the students. It is also a technology that transcends the classroom so our students are experimenting with it in all areas of their lives – often they will be using it much more effectively than you!

I make it a point to watch students using AI tools during class and talk to them about what they are doing. At first, they act like drivers on the road who immediately slow down when they see a police officer, believing they are doing something wrong. After a while, they realise I am genuinely interested and not out to ‘get them.’

When engaging in these conversations try to remember to:

Be non judgemental

• Your goal is to learn from them and not make them feel guilty.

Be curious

• Try to understand why they are using it and what advantages they experience from which program.

Be constructive

• Ask how they are using the technology to leverage their own skills, voice, and goals.

A great way to establish expectations surrounding the use of AI in your classroom is to dive into the ethics of artificial intelligence. This works great in English classes when discussing writing, art classes when it comes to copyright or artistic integrity, and civics when exploring fake news. 

This powerful technology is just starting to revolutionise society, and all of us have a major role in how this plays out for humanity. Our students need to understand that they are a major part of this story. 

AI tools for teachers are  evolving at exponential speeds, so it may feel overwhelming figuring out how to approach this with your students. The following topics provide a strong starting point that will remain relevant even as the capabilities and uses change:

Transparency

We should establish clear guidelines and expectations around the use of AI. That applies to both teachers and the students.

This can take the guilt and fear out of using AI by creating an environment where the entire process can be easily disclosed.

Accuracy

As I referenced above, AI is not infallible and there is a real concern around hallucinations and bias. 

Literacy

Ensure students realise that using AI requires media literacy skills to ensure information is being consumed and created correctly. 

As more and more people use AI tools to research, it is important to use the same approach as one would when validating sources from more traditional search engines.

Critical thinking

This is the big one. 

I am not confident in predicting the future but I am fairly certain that the need for critical thinkers will not go away. Help emphasise to students that AI has the ability to perform a wide range of tasks and that developing their ability to reason and think critically is what will allow them to effectively harness the power of AI moving forward.

Artificial intelligence is not going away. Just take a look at the stock market and the companies that are pouring billions of dollars into this venture. There is little doubt that this will continue to flow into almost every area of our lives.

The goal is to leverage this change, learn to harness its power accurately, and, in turn, create something better in its place. Utilising AI for lesson plans is not just about saving time. At its core it is about using our resources more effectively to ensure that education creates the results that each and every learner deserves.

References

1. Casap, J. (2025, May 19). AI in Education: Strapping a Turbo Engine to a Horse’s Ass. Jaime Casap. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://jcasap.medium.com/ai-in-education-strapping-a-turbo-engine-to-a-horses-ass-c2cbf3d0b093
2. Hickman, R. (2025, May 30). Trump administration ‘MAHA’ health report cited nonexistent studies. Reuters. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-administration-report-us-child-health-cited-nonexistent-studies-media-2025-05-30/
3. Milberg, T. (2025, May 22). Why AI literacy is now a core competency in education. World Economic Forum. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/05/why-ai-literacy-is-now-a-core-competency-in-education/
4. When AI Gets It Wrong: Addressing AI Hallucinations and Bias. (n.d.). MIT Sloan Teaching & Learning Technologies. Retrieved May 31, 2025, from https://mitsloanedtech.mit.edu/ai/basics/addressing-ai-hallucinations-and-bias/