AI to revolutionise teaching: The UK has allocated £1 million in funding to 16 ed-tech companies to develop AI tools that hopefully reduce the time teachers spend on marking and providing personalised student feedback
This funding supports the idea that artificial intelligence can improve technology quality, boost student performance, and ease the administrative burden teachers face.
Making teacher’s jobs easier with AI
The main goal of these AI tools is to automate parts of the feedback and assessment process.
Often, teachers spend a lot of time reviewing and marking students’ work, but high quality is known to be one of the most significant drivers of academic improvement.
Using this process, the new AI tools will allow teachers to focus more on direct student interaction and lesson delivery.
In some cases, developers estimate these tools could reduce the time spent on formative assessments by as much as 50%, allowing for more face-to-face teaching time.
Delivering better quality education
The AI tools will be tailored to certain subjects and age groups, specifically assisting in marking handwritten essays. Assessing geography students’ maps and diagrams or analysing math equations for common errors.
By offering personalised and accurate feedback, the tools are expected to support teachers and deliver a higher standard of education. The AI will also ensure that teachers retain control and oversight of the feedback, ensuring the human element of teaching, such as understanding the individual needs of each student, remains central.
To ensure the accuracy and relevance of the AI tools, they will be trained using a unique, government-backed content store. This store will include curriculum guidelines, lesson plans, and anonymised student work, all tailored to the UK’s educational standards.
Making sure AI is trustworthy
According to estimates, this targeted training data will improve the reliability of AI-generated feedback, raising its accuracy from 67% to 92%. This is crucial in making AI tools trustworthy and effective for classroom use.
Integrating AI into public services
AI can contribute to a more efficient education system by reducing teachers’ administrative workloads. The government aims to embed AI into society, driving national growth and public service reform. Through this initiative, AI has the potential to create a more dynamic, responsive education system while improving the overall quality of teaching.
The project also looks to tackle existing barriers to educational opportunity. With more efficient use of teacher time, there is potential for more equitable outcomes, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, can benefit from high-quality teaching.
By freeing up teachers to focus on student interaction and personalised instruction, the initiative could help address some of the disparities in educational access and achievement.
Funding 16 ed-tech companies
The 16 developers involved in this project range from start-ups to universities, each contributing innovative solutions to enhance different aspects of the learning process. One of the projects, for example, is focused on developing AI tools for improving feedback in maths, specifically for students in the 16-19 age group. This tool will assess areas of weakness and generate practice questions, further driving improvement.
This initiative also reflects the growing trend of AI integration across various sectors, including education, where technology is being used to streamline administrative tasks and enhance the learning experience itself.
However, for AI to truly change education, it must align with the specific needs of teachers and students, ensuring that the technology complements, rather than replaces, the human elements of teaching.
By balancing efficiency with teacher expertise, these AI tools redefine the educational landscape, enabling teachers to deliver even more impactful lessons while ensuring students receive the personalised feedback they need to succeed.
