Teacher saves hours a week using ChatGPT to plan lessons

A primary school teacher admits using AI and ChatGPT saves him hours every week - but he can't see robots taking over anytime soon.

David Grant, 27, reckons using technology has stopped him 'taking the job home' - and given him his life back.

Contracted to work 35 hours a week, he says before he used AI and ChatGPT he was working up 60 hours.

Now David, who has been teaching for five years, says using the software has given him back some free time.

But, despite the benefits, he says he doesn't think technology will replace in-person teachers.

David, from Glasgow, Scotland, said: "The average teacher works between 57-60 hours a week.

"I am only contracted to work 35 hours and most teachers on average do 10 hours extra.

"Using AI has helped me cut back on the hours I would spend working at home, now I don't take any work home with me.

"People are getting really hyped and saying it will replace teachers but I don't see that happening - it's a tool to assist teachers."

David introduced AI for learning which earlier this year.

He said: "Marking books is the biggest thing that takes the most time. With AI tools, it will give students feedback as they are doing the task.

"At the end of the day you get that data and then you can give the student their feedback - it streamlines the whole process."

"The scope for learning is incredible, it is almost like the invention of the internet.

"AI is something that can enhance our experiences as teachers, it will enhance teaching rather than hinder it.

"For me, I use it to reduce my workload and admin which can be quite overwhelming from time to time."

David has now started using AI to help him plan lessons, creating PowerPoints and learning tools for pupils.

He said: "I have been using software called Curipod, it can create whole PowerPoints for you.

"It can generate whole lessons but I have not done that myself yet.

"The best way I have used it is when I have finished a lesson too quickly.

"It has a last-minute feature, you click on that and it will add more slides to the PowerPoint for you."

David said the transition to AI has come "naturally" as most teaching has transitioned online after Covid.

He said: "It has been breakneck speed, with the whole pandemic everything went digital.

"We continued to use a lot of that technology after the pandemic. For example, we use iPads and Chromebooks in the classroom a lot.

"The transition has come naturally, I played around with ChatGPT in my own personal life and I thought 'why can't I apply this for work'."