Author: Lukas Kay
Posted: 21 Mar 2024
Estimated time to read: 6 mins
Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm. It’s no longer something featured in science fiction films. It’s a real and powerful tool that can help professionals across various industries -- including education -- do their jobs more effectively.
What does the future of AI in education look like? Can AI be used for curriculum design in schools? Find the answers to these and other frequently asked questions below.
How can AI be used in curriculum design?
AI-powered tools can be used for curriculum design in numerous ways and at various points in the process. The following are some examples of how teachers might incorporate AI into their curriculum planning strategy:
Initial planning and brainstorming
One of the best ways to use AI in curriculum design is to generate starting points and create frameworks. AI can offer initial ideas and outlines for lesson plans, sparking creativity and providing a foundation for teachers to build upon.
Teachers can also use AI to identify knowledge gaps by analysing existing curriculum materials and student data. In addition to pinpointing areas where knowledge gaps might exist, AI-powered tools can recommend relevant resources to address them.
Staying organised during the curriculum creation process can be challenging, especially in the early stages. AI can come in handy because it helps teachers maintain a logical flow and structure while they develop lessons that naturally build upon each other.
Content creation and delivery
Not only can AI be used in the initial planning and brainstorming phase, but it also plays a critical role in content creation and delivery. For example, AI technology can personalise learning materials based on individual student needs and preferences. It can adjust the difficulty level of an assignment or use different learning styles for different students.
AI can also create different versions of content or provide summaries of complex topics, catering to diverse learning needs -- without requiring teachers to dedicate hours of their time to putting together individualised assignments. AI can deliver interactive elements within lessons, too. Examples of interactive elements include simulations, quizzes, and games that enhance engagement and encourage active learning.
Assessment and feedback
Curriculum design is an ongoing process, but AI can help to speed it up while also making lessons more targeted to students in specific classes.
AI can analyse student responses and provide individualised feedback tailored to their strengths and weaknesses, guiding their learning journey. It can also analyse student performance data to identify topics where students struggle consistently, suggesting potential areas for curriculum revision.
What are the benefits of using AI for curriculum design?
AI could never replace teachers and their impact, but it can be used to help them make a bigger impact on their students (while also helping them work more efficiently and giving them back some of their valuable time). Here are some of the greatest advantages of using AI for curriculum design:
Increase personalisation
Many instructors use AI for personalised learning. For example, AI tools can analyse student data, including past performance, learning styles (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic), and interests. Based on this data, the AI can recommend personalised content, activities, and resources that cater to each student's strengths and weaknesses. AI can also analyse student performance in real-time, adjusting the difficulty and pace of the lesson accordingly.
For struggling students, an AI tool might suggest additional practice exercises or simpler explanations. Conversely, for advanced learners, the AI could recommend more challenging tasks or introduce enrichment activities. This ensures that all students are appropriately challenged and engaged in the learning process.
Save time
AI can help teachers save time in many different ways. It streamlines the content creation process and allows them to put together more lesson materials -- including personalised lesson plans for individual students -- in less time.
AI also assists with other tasks, such as grading multiple choice assignments, scheduling meetings, and organising student data. These tasks can quickly eat up a teacher’s entire day and take them away from other responsibilities, including the more nuanced aspects of curriculum design.
Increase engagement
Because AI can be used to create interactive elements for lessons -- quickly, without teachers having to put in hours or days of work -- teachers can utilise it to create more engaging lessons that keep students interested and help them to get more out of their time in class.
Increase accessibility
AI can be a valuable tool in making lesson planning more accessible for students with diverse needs. For example, AI can automatically convert text to braille, add captions to videos, and generate audio descriptions of images and videos. This allows students with visual impairments, hearing impairments, or reading difficulties to engage with learning materials independently.
AI-powered translation tools can also help translate lesson plans and materials into different languages, making it easier for students who are still learning English to understand and participate in class activities.
Access new learning resources
AI-powered tools provide teachers with access to a virtually endless stream of learning resources. If teachers are unsure of how to cover a particular concept in class or want to find a more creative way to discuss a specific topic, AI can provide them with options that they wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
Access in-depth analytics
Many AI tools and technologies also make it easy for teachers (as well as headteachers, administrators, etc.) to collect and analyse student data.
These features help teachers to understand better how their students are doing. Are they catching on to a particular topic, or do they seem to be struggling to follow along? Based on this data, teachers can adjust their approach to ensure students don’t fall behind.
Reduce burnout
Finally, the use of AI in curriculum design and lesson planning can also help to reduce the risk of burnout among teachers. Burnout is a serious problem for teachers in the UK, with more than a third saying they’re experiencing it.
By speeding up the curriculum planning process and automating tedious tasks, teachers can get more work done more quickly, giving them more time to focus on core responsibilities and helping them experience a greater sense of work-life balance.
What are the downsides of using AI for curriculum design?
As with any tool, there are certain downsides that come with AI-powered curriculum design. Some of the most important ones to be aware of are listed below:
Security concerns
Because AI technology -- especially technology used in curriculum design -- is relatively new, many people have expressed concerns about data security. They want to know what kind of data these tools are processing and whether or not it’s being shared (and with whom).
Potential for bias
There is also the potential for biased outputs from AI-powered tools. Because humans train AI tools, they can sometimes take on human biases. It’s important for teachers to review AI outputs carefully and make adjustments if they notice signs of bias to avoid sharing harmful content with pupils.
Quality control concerns
AI is fast, but it’s not always 100 percent accurate. Teachers who rely on AI-powered tools will still have to perform regular checks to ensure the content they will be delivering in class is accurate and up to date.
How to choose the right AI tool for curriculum design
To experience all the benefits of AI-powered curriculum design, you need to select the right tool. The following are some of the most important factors to consider when making your decision:
Features
Start by considering the specific features each tool offers. What tasks can it help you complete? What processes can it automate (or at least make more efficient)?
Data sharing
Concerns about data sharing and privacy are valid. That’s why most developers of AI-powered tools are transparent about what data they collect and whether or not they share it with any third parties. Ask about the organisation’s privacy policy before deciding whether or not you want to use a particular tool.
Price
Of course, you’ll need to consider the price of any curriculum design solution. Find out if there is any kind of free trial option available, too. That way, you can experiment with a particular tool before you commit to using it as a regular part of your curriculum design process.
User support
Don’t forget to ask about user support as well. What kind of customer support service does the provider offer? Do they provide training resources and other materials to help you figure out how to use the tool and start incorporating it into your lesson planning?
Experience the benefits of AI in education
The answer to the question asked at the beginning of this article is yes. AI can certainly be used for curriculum design in schools. In fact, it has the potential to speed up the process while increasing personalisation and engagement and providing access to detailed analytics for more informed lesson planning in the future.
Are you looking for an AI-powered curriculum design tool that checks all the boxes mentioned above? If so, Satchel One’s Sidekick is here to help you fall in love with teaching again.
Learn more about Sidekick today or book a personalised demo for your school.
