Evolving at a rapid pace, AI lesson plans are being trialled, but will they change the way you teach and plan for your class? As with everything, you may find three types of people when it comes to new technology and methods. Those who jump in with two feet and adapt to it straight away. Those who stay clear of it because they like their current method. Then there are those who try the new technology, but are apprehensive. Which category do you fall into? In this article we explore the rise in AI lesson planning within the education sector, what this could mean for you, and how Pango are helping drive the change.
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AI is the abbreviation for artificial intelligence. In short, it is a form of technology which can be used to perform tasks, which may have previously needed human intervention. Spanning many industries, including education, in 2024 it is likely you’ve heard of various AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google’s own Bard. But what do they all have in common? They are categorised as ‘Generative AI’, which is a sub-theme within the AI-sphere.
Generative AI is the subcategory closely linked to content creation, as it has the abilities to read algorithms and code, which in turn can form tangible pieces of work such as:
It’s this type of AI, which is commonly used when you see AI lesson plan models being advertised.
Lesson planning can be one of the most time consuming elements you as a teacher faces each week / month / term. Imagine halving the time you’d usually spend structuring and finding appropriate resources, allowing you to allocate your time towards other projects. The dream, right? With AI lesson planning that could be your reality. While still in the early stages of adoption, planning your lessons using AI can help take some of the heavy lifting out of a manual process. This can be particularly helpful if you are trying to plan for a subject you’re not the lead on.
One thing to remember as teachers is that AI is not here to take over your jobs. It is a friendly companion who can enhance your job and make your work-life balance more achievable.
Using a similar framework to what the majority of teachers currently use, AI planning tools can help pull together a structure once given a brief. The brief may include:
With this guidance, the AI generative model can provide an easily digestible template for your lesson plan.
‘Free’ AI tools like OpenAI offer much potential. However, they still require the right nack or prompts to get exactly what you need. The perceived time saving benefit of AI could be lost by trial and error trying to get the right prompt for your class.
Equally these tools can offer quite generic lesson plans that need your expertise to shape them for the class and focus.
While AI is here to help streamline processes that would otherwise have taken humans longer to perform, it doesn't mean it comes without challenges. The top three challenges faced with using AI in the education sector include:
Taking the previously discussed challenges on board, here at Pango we wanted to provide a solution. Afterall, our goal is and always will continue to be ‘made by teachers, for teachers’.
We are currently testing our own generative AI lesson plans, which we know you can trust to provide appropriate results in real time. Our new AI platform helps educators find the right resources quickly, saving both time and effort. What’s more, our AI tool will also allow you to edit lesson plans to suit your needs and focus. Being adaptable, while still focusing on the main task at hand is what’s most important to us. We know how hard teachers' jobs are to balance not only the in-person teaching, but the additional work that goes on behind the scenes. Finding solutions to help you quicken processes such as lesson planning, can only be a benefit.
Unlike the generic AI tools, our lesson plans combine the benefits of generative AI with content from our trusted partners, including:
Using AI should not be scary for teachers, or anyone from different industries for that matter. Remember that it’s here to help rather than hinder, is the mindset we should all adopt. In April 2024, Ofsted released a policy paper outlining their approach to AI. If they’re using it within the Education sector to explore the data they hold, you can use it to generate your next lesson plans.
Discussing the steps we at Pango are taking to drive AI forward within the education sector, it’s only right to showcase the benefits of choosing us as your provider.
Take back your time from lesson planning and let Pango lighten the load. Sunday planning days can be a thing of the past with AI technology helping to plan lessons and find the appropriate resources for your year group. From geography activities, to science worksheets and history resources, our high-quality worksheets and teaching resources are just a click away. Sign up today and receive a 7-day free trial to all our premium content.