Your no-fluff guide to the major AI models and what they’re actually good for.

Because just like with edtech tools, choosing the right AI can save you hours of planning, grading, and communicating. Using the right one can feel like having a team of specialized teaching assistants at your fingertips.

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

• Best for: Brainstorming, drafting lesson plans, creating rubrics, and generating creative content.
• Why it works for teachers: This is your most versatile all-around assistant. It's a great thought partner for turning a vague idea ("I need a lesson on metaphors") into a detailed outline or a ready-to-use resource.
• Pro tip: Use the more powerful GPT-4 (available with a paid subscription) for more accurate, nuanced, and high-quality outputs, especially for complex tasks.
• Try it for:
  • Drafting lesson plans and differentiating them for various student levels.
  • Generating vocabulary lists, comprehension questions, or reading passages on a specific topic.
  • Creating a first draft of a classroom newsletter or a parent communication email.
  • Building customizable grading rubrics aligned with your learning objectives.

Claude (Anthropic)

• Best for: Summarizing long articles, analyzing student work, and sensitive communications.
• Why it works for teachers: Claude has a reputation for being thoughtful and articulate. Its ability to process huge amounts of text makes it perfect for digesting long PDFs or analyzing student essays. It also handles sensitive topics with more care.
• Pro tip: Claude 3 can handle very large files (like a research paper or a transcript of a guest speaker) and give you a structured, readable summary.
• Try it for:
  • Summarizing a chapter from a textbook or a long news article for your students.
  • Anonymously analyzing patterns and common errors in a batch of student writing.
  • Drafting clear, empathetic emails for challenging parent or administrative communications.
  • Creating detailed project outlines from a broad concept.

Gemini (Google)

• Best for: Real-time research, staying current, and integrating with Google Workspace.
• Why it works for teachers: With direct access to Google Search, Gemini is ideal for getting the latest information on current events or new scientific discoveries. It also works seamlessly within the Google tools many schools already use.
• Pro tip: It's especially useful when you need to quickly check facts or find up-to-date data for a lesson on a trending topic.
• Try it for:
  • Finding the latest information on a historical event or scientific breakthrough for a lesson.
  • Drafting an email in Gmail or creating a meeting summary in Google Docs.
  • Brainstorming project ideas that require current, real-world examples.
  • Creating a quick outline for a presentation in Google Slides.

Copilot (Microsoft / OpenAI)

• Best for: Administrative tasks, data analysis, and creating presentations.
• Why it works for teachers: Built directly into Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot is a powerhouse for automating many of the administrative tasks that take up so much of a teacher's time. It excels with data-heavy work in Excel and can help you create stunning presentations in PowerPoint.