60% of Educators Use AI in the Classroom – Here’s Why

Ever since large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT became widely available, there has been concern about the rise of students using them to do their work. But it’s not just the kids — it turns out that teachers are just as big fans. One report found that 60% of educators use AI in the classroom, and some predict that this number will only grow over time. 

Let’s look at why this trend is becoming increasingly widespread, plus the concerns holding some educators back from AI adoption.  

Applications of AI in the Classroom 

The first step to understanding why AI is so popular in the classroom is to grasp how it’s being used. 

AI may help with any of the following: 

• Educational games to encourage learning  

• Administration and planning work for teachers  

• Learning platforms that adapt to the learners in real-time 

• Feedback systems  

• Tutoring.  

Let’s look at each of these in more detail. 

Educational Games 

Gamification has long been a way for savvy teachers to encourage their students to engage with what they’re learning. Artificial intelligence takes these games to the next level by adding more personalization and immersion. 

They may be used for language, math, problem solving or just about anything else.  

Administration and Planning  

AI is fantastic at automation. It can significantly cut down the time teachers need to spend on administrative tasks such as planning lessons and creating content for those lessons (like images or presentations). 

Learning Management Systems 

Learning management systems (LMS) are becoming a vital part of how educators use AI in the classroom. These platforms support teachers in hosting programs, building courses, and delivering adaptive learning experiences with less manual effort. 

For example, LearnUpon leverages AI to automatically generate quizzes from course content and includes AI-powered bots to guide students. Other LMS tools adjust lesson sequencing, difficulty, and pacing based on student performance — a powerful example of how AI in the classroom enhances both teaching and learning outcomes. 

Feedback  

Typically, educators spend a lot of time on grading and feedback. While most would agree that it would be dangerous to let AI handle 100% of grading without human input, it can help ease teachers’ burdens when it comes to repetitive tasks. 

Automatic scoring is particularly useful for multiple choice tests and similar, where grading answers is less subjective.  

Tutoring  

One of the most impactful uses of AI in the classroom is intelligent tutoring. These systems analyze how students perform and respond with personalized lessons, targeted practice, and detailed feedback designed to address knowledge gaps. 

Even simpler implementations, like chatbots answering common questions, can save teachers time and ensure students get help exactly when they need it. 

Benefits of AI in the Classroom 

Now that we’ve seen the role of AI in the classroom, we can explore the benefits it provides to teachers and learners. 

Firstly, AI helps to keep students engaged. It can make learning more interactive and tailored to the individual, and allows students to progress at the right pace and at an appropriate difficulty level. No more pretending to keep up with the rest of the class, or sitting there bored while everyone else catches up. 

Suppose there are any gaps in a learner’s understanding. In that case, AI can often identify them through assessments and provide comprehensive explanations, ensuring students go away with complete knowledge of a topic. 

Since AI is increasingly used in applications like grading and administration, it also helps teachers save time and be more efficient. This allows them to reallocate their time to helping students in more meaningful ways than routine tasks like grading. 

Over time, teachers can look at analytics from platforms to see how students are performing and which questions they’re struggling with. This helps them to identify problem areas or potential patterns (such as a certain group of students struggling with a specific area). They can then amend their curriculum or lesson plans accordingly. 

Why Some Teachers Aren’t Using AI  

Instead of asking why 60% of teachers are using AI, it might be just as pertinent to question why 40% of teachers haven’t made the shift yet. 

One factor may be age. There’s some evidence that younger teachers are more likely to embrace AI, which reflects broader generational differences when it comes to AI use. 

Yet teachers of all ages may have ethical concerns about AI. These include: 

• Concerns that it is harming creativity or critical thinking 

• The possibility of AI use for plagiarism  

• Data privacy issues  

• Biases present in AI (such as favoring or centering certain groups) 

Some of these concerns can be mitigated by teaching students how to use AI responsibly by teaching them about digital literacy.  

Learning.com recently conducted a nationwide poll to understand educators’ leading concerns about digital technology, including AI readiness. Find out what they said in the Insight Report below.

Plotting the Educational Shift to AI 

At a time when the teaching profession is more challenging than ever, educators are increasingly turning to AI in the classroom to help them engage learners, cut costs, and save time. Done right, this technology has the potential to help students learn better and faster, but the potential risks of AI must also be taken seriously.

EasyTech is a curriculum dedicated to teaching students about technology, including AI and digital literacy, ensuring they fully understand the tools at their disposal.