Majority of UK teachers rely on AI, despite training gap

A recent survey conducted by Twinkl has revealed that 60% of UK teachers are using artificial intelligence (AI) as part of their professional duties, while 43% are using it in their private lives.

The study, which collected responses from over 6,500 UK teachers, indicates a significant shift towards integrating AI in educational settings. With 23% of educators using AI on a daily basis, the technology is being leveraged to save time and reduce workload. Data shows that 24% of frequent users save up to an hour each week, while 64% save between one and five hours, and 9% manage to save over five hours.

Jonathan Park, Head of AI at Twinkl, stated, "The research shows teachers are increasingly embracing AI to reduce admin tasks, improve work-life balance, and free-up time to focus on teaching. Some educators (3%) are even using AI to save over ten hours a week." Park emphasised that AI could potentially alleviate the heavy workloads that drive many teachers to leave the profession.

Despite the growing adoption of AI, 76% of teachers have yet to receive adequate training or guidance on how to effectively utilise these tools in their classrooms. The survey also highlighted a desire among teachers for specific AI tools, with 63% interested in tools for content creation, 58% for lesson planning, and 55% for report writing.

A majority of the respondents, 58%, align with the Government's "AI Opportunities Action Plan", which envisions AI enhancing educational standards and reducing paperwork. Two-thirds of these educators are optimistic about AI's potential to positively impact education. However, a mere 19% believe that AI is currently well-regulated.

Twinkl has responded to these needs by creating a suite of AI solutions designed to assist teachers globally. These solutions are intended to improve teaching efficiency and have already been adopted by over 170,000 educators worldwide. Twinkl's offerings include Ari, an AI-powered assistant, which aids in lesson planning, report writing, and generating quizzes.

Jonathan Park from Twinkl further commented, "The good news for educators is that many of the AI programs they would like to use already exist. For example, 72,000 teachers have already made use of Twinkl's AI Report Writer tool. As an increasing number of offerings hit the market, what teachers clearly need is better guidance on what solutions to trust, as well as effective training on how best to make use of AI's potential at school."

The continued integration of AI into educational practices and the evident need for comprehensive training highlights the evolving landscape of teaching resources in the UK. This rise in technology use underlines the importance of proper training and guidance to maximise the potential benefits of AI in education.