Study: Teachers who use AI save 30 minutes per week

Math Worlds

Dan Meyer

Summary of "UK Teachers Use ChatGPT 3.5 in Lesson Planning and Save 30 Minutes Weekly"

A recent study explored the impact of ChatGPT 3.5 on lesson planning among UK teachers, offering valuable insights into the potential of AI tools in education. The study randomly assigned teachers into two groups: one allowed to use ChatGPT and the other restricted from using it. Over the course of the study, teachers tracked the time spent on lesson and resource preparation, revealing that ChatGPT users saved an average of 30 minutes per week.

Ease of Use and Accessibility

Notably, teachers using ChatGPT received minimal training—only an asynchronous resource—making the implementation cost-effective. This aligns with the observation that 81% of participants found ChatGPT easy to use, debunking the assumption that significant professional development (PD) is required for educators to adopt AI tools. However, while ChatGPT is user-friendly, some teachers reported challenges that limited its appeal.

Barriers and Challenges

The study highlighted several limitations that hindered long-term adoption of ChatGPT. First, the tool’s inability to generate diagrams and its formatting inconsistencies were significant drawbacks. For some teachers, reformatting or sourcing visual aids negated or outweighed the time saved. This "last-mile delivery problem" underscores the difficulty of seamlessly integrating AI-generated materials into the classroom.

Another barrier was the availability of pre-prepared, high-quality lesson resources. Teachers expressed that resources created by experienced educators were often superior to those generated by ChatGPT. This comparison revealed that while AI can assist with routine tasks, it struggles to replicate the creativity and depth of human-crafted materials.

Declining Use Over Time

Interestingly, teachers in the ChatGPT group reported using the tool less frequently as the study progressed. This suggests that the novelty of AI assistance may wear off or that the limitations of the tool become more apparent with extended use. This finding is critical for developers and policymakers aiming to sustain the integration of AI in education.

Optimistic Outlook on AI in Education

Despite its limitations, ChatGPT was recognized as a quality-of-life improvement tool for teachers. The study aligns with the hypothesis that AI in education can streamline administrative and preparatory tasks, enhancing efficiency without fundamentally transforming teaching practices. AI’s role in education may be analogous to tools like grammar checkers—useful for improving workflow but unlikely to replace the human element of teaching.

Implications for Future Adoption

The study’s “Barriers & Facilitators” section, particularly on page 71, provides qualitative insights into why teachers adopt and eventually abandon AI tools. This feedback is invaluable for refining AI products to better meet educators’ needs. Developers must address issues like output formatting and the integration of visual aids to ensure AI tools deliver tangible, lasting benefits.

In conclusion, while ChatGPT 3.5 demonstrates potential for saving time and improving teacher workflow, its adoption is tempered by practical challenges. Developers and educational leaders must focus on overcoming these barriers to fully realize AI’s promise in education.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com