As educators, we strive to create inclusive and personalized learning experiences for every student and every class. However, with limited time, this can be challenging. What if we could enhance this practice with artificial intelligence?

In my new book, Elevate Equity in EdTech, I devote a chapter to equitable lesson planning. In this chapter, I discuss the key aspects of creating an equitable lesson plan, including what it means to plan for all students and what topics to consider when supporting students with various needs. I believe recent advancements in artificial intelligence can help educators cut down on time spent on lesson planning and spend more time working with students.

For educators who strive to use technology in innovative ways, exploring the use of AI in lesson planning is a crucial step toward creating equitable and effective educational experiences. If you’ve never used an AI tool for lesson planning, now is the time! While you still have to be the human behind the screen to fact-check and vet the content, it’s a great starting point for those who are unsure of how to begin a lesson design or may be strapped for time.

First and foremost, it’s important that educators understand AI basics. You don’t necessarily have to be an AI expert, but you should be familiar with how a tool works. I frequently tell people that using an AI tool is similar to using a search engine, but instead of returning links and resources, it provides customized content based on what you’ve asked it to do. Familiarizing yourself with the process of creating a meaningful prompt within an AI search engine is the best place to start. Understanding this fundamental skill will empower you to leverage AI effectively. Then, once you’re ready, begin to research different AI tools. Some are designed specifically for educators, while others are aimed at a more general audience.

To get started, here are 5 suggestions of topics to consider while you are using AI for lesson planning:

1. Transparency and oversight. We start with transparency and oversight because, depending on your classroom, school, or district, some tools may have already been vetted and sanctioned and others may not. It’s important to ask your leadership which tools are already recommended. If you are currently using AI tools and aren’t sure whether or not they have been approved, it’s a good idea to bring them to your administration’s attention to check for privacy and compliance concerns.

2. List creation. Use a resource like Goblin Tools to help you break down projects into smaller tasks and create timelines for completion. For example, you can ask for the tool to prompt something such as: “Create a ‘Shark Tank’ event for a group of 50 students who are planning on sharing their science projects with an audience.” From there, Goblin Tools will create an outlined list of what you need to do to complete the project. It can even estimate the amount of time a task will take. This can also be helpful for students who may struggle to get started with their classwork and larger projects, or who need guidance with time management.

3. Personalized assessment creation. With the correct prompting, AI-powered tools can generate quizzes based on Bloom’s Taxonomy levels. This can help tailor assessments more closely to learning goals. An example of this might be a 5th-grade science educator asking an AI search engine: “Create a 5-question quiz about landforms and oceans that focuses on Level 1 of Bloom's Taxonomy.” The resulting quiz would still need a review to check for factual and equitable content, but it can be a “first start” for educators to quickly generate new assessments.

4. Customized lesson plans. Every student learns differently, and it’s our job as educators to try to reach them as best as we can. This is where AI tools can be particularly beneficial–these tools can generate tailored lesson outlines based on grade level, subject and specific learning challenges. An example of this might be: “Create a lesson plan for a small group of students in 10th grade who struggle with polynomial factoring.” Teachers can and should refine and enhance these plans until they meet their unique classroom needs.

5. Grading rubrics. Last but certainly not least, utilizing AI is a fantastic way for teachers to create grading rubrics efficiently. Educators can define what is being measured for a lesson or assignment and ask an AI search engine to design a rubric. Again, the results may need to be vetted and refined, but by automating this process with artificial intelligence tools, educators can focus more time on providing meaningful feedback and supporting struggling students.

Despite the time constraints that educators may face, AI can assist in equitable lesson planning by reducing the time spent on preparation and increasing the time spent on personalized learning, which allows more focus on student interaction. I encourage all educators to at least give AI a chance–explore AI tools and see what they can offer for you, your students, and your school community!

Victoria Thompson, M.S. is an educational technologist and author. As a former K-12 educator, instructional coach, and member of school district leadership in South Carolina and Washington state, and with experience as an Education Industry Executive and Customer Success Account Manager at Microsoft Education, she is known for bringing enthusiasm and industry expertise to education and technology communities. She works alongside school leadership and technology professionals to bring viable strategy and business solutions to the forefront. In 2023 she won the title of one of the Top 10 Most Visionary Leaders in Education by CIO Look Magazine. Additionally, she was recently awarded the title of one of the top 30 K-12 IT influencers in 2021 by EdTech Magazine and one of the ISTE Top 20 to Watch in 2023. She lives in Winter Garden, FL with her wife, Kourtney, and their dog, Ren.

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