Teachers using AI for lesson planning

Teachers are using generative artificial intelligence to draft lesson plans, tailor materials to different reading levels, and cut routine paperwork, even as school guidance still trails adoption. (rand.org) During the 2023–2024 school year, 25 percent of surveyed kindergarten through grade 12 teachers said they used artificial intelligence tools for instructional planning or teaching, according to RAND, and nearly 60 percent of principals said they used the tools for their own work. (rand.org) RAND reported in October 2025 that artificial intelligence use by educators had increased over time, with teachers using it to create lesson plans, get feedback on instruction, and handle tasks such as grading and recommendation letters. (rand.org) Training is expanding, but unevenly. RAND said about half of school districts had provided teachers with training on generative artificial intelligence by fall 2024, roughly double the share from the previous fall. (rand.org) Formal rules still lag behind classroom practice. In the same 2023–2024 RAND survey, only 18 percent of principals said their schools or districts had provided guidance on artificial intelligence use by staff, teachers, or students. (rand.org) Government guidance is increasingly framing the technology as a workload tool, not a substitute for teachers. The United Kingdom Department for Education said generative artificial intelligence can help with lesson planning, resource creation, and administrative work, while stressing that teachers remain responsible for professional judgment. (gov.uk) That position has hardened into more detailed support. The Department for Education published a set of school support materials on June 10, 2025 covering safe use, prompting, leadership planning, and case studies for schools and colleges. (gov.uk) Some public-sector pilots are now putting time savings on the record. The Education Hub, a United Kingdom government publication, said teachers using Oak National Academy’s artificial intelligence lesson-planning tool reported saving about three to four hours a week. (educationhub.blog.gov.uk) International guidance has moved in the same direction, with more emphasis on guardrails. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization guidance published in September 2023 and updated on January 16, 2026 called for a human-centered approach to generative artificial intelligence in education. (unesco.org) The picture emerging in 2026 is not teachers handing classes to chatbots. It is teachers using software to prepare faster, adapt materials more easily, and keep final decisions in human hands. (rand.org)