10 Best AI Tools for Teachers to Use in 2024 (Free + Paid)
The perfect blend of AI and human experience can transform a teacher’s life, and in a very positive way. Using AI in the right way can enhance student engagement, create a richer learning environment, and maximize the potential of both technology and human interaction.
In this blog, we will:
- Highlight 5 benefits of AI for teachers
- List 10 best AI tools for teachers
- Share the best practices for using AI in teaching
Let’s get started.
5 Benefits of AI for Teachers
From freeing up their time for more important tasks to enhancing creativity, AI in education unlocks new gates. Here are 5 significant benefits it offers to teachers:
- Time-saving: By automating repetitive tasks and completing them in seconds, AI can allow teachers to focus more on instruction and student interaction.
- Personalization: AI can tailor learning experiences to individual student needs, addressing diverse styles and improving outcomes.
- Data-driven decision making: By analyzing educational data quickly and effectively, AI tools help teachers make informed decisions and develop their teaching strategies.
- Accessibility: AI can assist students with disabilities by providing text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and other technologies, which can enable teachers to create more inclusive experiences.
- Professional development and lifelong learning: AI can suggest resources to support a teacher’s ongoing professional growth, including access to latest educational research and practices.
10 Best AI Tools for Teachers
The following 10 best AI tools for teachers, each with a specific purpose, can help educators adapt to diverse needs of their students while improving overall teaching efficiency.
1. Maestra
For: transcription and translation in 125+ languages
Why it rocks: breaks language and accessibility barriers
Particularly useful for: teachers who have students with diverse language needs or accessibility requirements
Adopting advanced machine learning technology, Maestra’s AI transcription tool can convert audio and video files to text accurately in seconds, aiding deaf and hard of hearing students. Meanwhile, its AI subtitle generator allows you to easily add subtitles to videos, improving comprehension for non-native students and fostering inclusivity.
Pricing: Free trial comes with a 2GB size limit. See more on pricing here.
2. MagicSchool AI
For: lesson planning and curriculum design
Why it rocks: provides high level of customization
Particularly useful for: novice teachers
With MagicSchool AI’s “Lesson Plan Generator”, teachers gain a structured starting point for creating comprehensive and engaging lesson plans. The tool ensures that the AI-generated plans align with educational standards without compromising customization.
Pricing: Free plan offers 60+ AI tools of the platform. See more on pricing here.
3. ChatGPT
For: idea generation
Why it rocks: is versatile and easy-to-use
Particularly useful for: all teachers
One of the toughest parts of a teacher’s job is constantly coming up with new ideas, and ChatGPT is the cure to this challenge. By writing effective prompts, teachers can use the beloved LLM to generate classroom activities, extracurricular programs, and attention-grabbing content.
Pricing: Free to use. Paid plans offer more advanced features. See more on pricing here.
4. Kahoot!
For: gamification
Why it rocks: makes learning fun
Particularly useful for: middle school teachers
You might be familiar with Kahoot!, but are you utilizing its AI-powered features? Thanks to these advanced capabilities, you can create games and questions by just uploading a PDF, adding a URL, or describing what you need to the tool’s GPT-4 powered model.
Pricing: AI features require a Kahoot! + Max account. See more on pricing here.
5. Quizizz
For: personalized learning
Why it rocks: ensures relevance for all students
Particularly useful for: teachers who have students with diverse learning styles
As one of the best AI tools for teachers, Quizizz lets you customize lessons and quizzes based on individual student data. With its “AI Enhance” feature, you can modify questions with ready-to-use prompts (e.g. convert it to a real-life scenario) and provide personalized practices for every student.
Pricing: Free to use in the US, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, and England. See more on pricing here.
6. Power BI
For: data visualization and analysis
Why it rocks: turns raw data into actionable insights
Particularly useful for: all teachers
Microsoft’s Power BI is among the top AI tools for teachers as its “Natural Language Query (NLQ)” feature allows you to directly type your questions and get quick insights about your data. Plus, with interactive dashboards for key metrics like attendance and grades, the tool makes it much easier to identify patterns and trends.
Pricing: Included in Microsoft Fabric free account. See more on pricing here.
7. Canva
For: content creation
Why it rocks: creates captivating visuals in seconds
Particularly useful for: teachers who rely on visuals
Every teacher can become a content creator with Canva’s Magic Studio, which offers a bunch of AI tools, ranging from a text-to-video generator to a presentation maker. Utilize them to speed up your preparation process, customize your teaching materials, and have a lot of fun along the way.
Pricing: Available with a free Canva account yet some features are exclusive to paid plans. See more on pricing here.
8. Quillbot
For: detecting AI-generated text
Why it rocks: clearly distinguishes between AI-generated and AI-refined text
Particularly useful for: high school and college teachers
Trained with advanced algorithms, Quillbot’s “AI Detector” is one of the best AI tools for teachers to maintain academic integrity. Besides identifying repeated words, awkward phrases and unnatural flow, the software can know exactly which part of the text appears AI-generated.
Pricing: Free to use.
9. Reclaim
For: smart scheduling
Why it rocks: prevents back-and-forth emailing
Particularly useful for: high school and college teachers
In the busy flow of office hours and meetings, Reclaim can help teachers by automatically scheduling tasks, prioritizing to-dos, and finding optimal time slots for everything on their calendar. The best feature is that you can customize and share the times you’re available, which reduces scheduling conflicts and miscommunication.
Pricing: Free plan is available for any user at no cost. See more on pricing here.
10. Coursebox
For: grading and assessment
Why it rocks: speeds up the grading process
Particularly useful for: all teachers
With Coursebox’s “AI Assessment” tool, your students don’t have to wait for days to receive responses, as it can automate grading based on your marking rubric and criteria. Moreover, it can provide instant answers and rewards to students, meaning high engagement and motivation through timely feedback.
Pricing: AI Assessment grader is included in the Free plan. See more on pricing here.
7 Best Practices for Using AI in Teaching
Before concluding our blog, let’s list what you should be mindful of when using these best AI tools for teachers, and educational technology in general:
- Balance technology and traditional methods. Never forget the “human side” of teaching, and blend AI tools with personal interactions for a well-rounded learning experience.
- Always maintain human oversight. Even the best AI tools can make mistakes, so make sure you review and interpret AI-generated content and results.
- Prioritize data security. Use AI tools that comply with data privacy regulations and protect student information.
- Promote digital literacy among your students. Educate them about AI and its implications to develop critical thinking skills regarding technology.
- Stay ethical. Ensure the AI tool does not reinforce bias, and strive to use AI in a way that benefits every student equally.
- Monitor AI’s effectiveness over time. Regularly assess the tool’s impact on teaching and learning outcomes by analyzing feedback and data.
- Keep up with developments in edtech. Stay updated on new tools and features to maximize the potential of AI in your classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free AI tool for teachers?
There is no single best free AI tool for teachers. However, teachers can greatly utilize large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot to generate lesson plans, enhance student engagement, and automate tasks like grading. By using these tools, teachers can not only save time but also improve the quality of their teaching materials.
What is the best AI presentation maker for teachers?
This depends on the teacher’s specific needs and preferences. For those looking for a variety of options, Visme offers 900+ slide layouts and millions of images. Meanwhile, Prezi has beautifully designed AI-assisted templates if aesthetics is important for you. As one of the best AI tools for teachers, Canva is also a classic with its user-friendly interface and collaboration features.
What is the best AI for math teachers?
For math teachers, there are several great apps in the market. Socratic by Google might be the most popular one; as it allows students to take a photo of a math problem and receive step-by-step explanations. Other best AI tools for math teachers include Wolfram Alpha (great for complex mathematical concepts), Photomath (particularly strong in algebra and trigonometry), and UpStudy (formerly known as CameraMath).
What is the best AI for language teaching?
There are several AI tools that are particularly effective in language teaching and learning. For example, Duolingo uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 features to deliver personalized language lessons. Similar to Duolingo, Babbel and Rosetta Stone are two popular adaptive learning platforms that utilize AI. Furthermore, for adding subtitles to videos (which can significantly boost understanding), you can use Maestra’s AI caption maker that supports 125+ languages.
Can teachers use GPTZero?
Yes, in fact GPTZero is also among the best AI tools for teachers. It can detect content from AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini and more, as well as check text and documents for plagiarism. Plus, it can easily integrate with learning management systems such as Canvas, Moodle and Google Classroom.
Summary
This blog shared 10 best AI tools for teachers with an emphasis on their key features, and how they contribute to the overall teaching experience. It also listed 7 best practices to adopt when using AI in education.
Among these best practices, we believe that “balancing technology with traditional methods” is the most crucial one. Teaching thrives on human interaction, no matter the level of technology, and this balance ensures that the heart of education remains personal. AI can support this interaction, and make the journey more fruitful both for teachers and students.
