In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the use of AI is outpacing our understanding of the technology. This disconnect highlights an urgent need to increase AI literacy and integrate AI into strategic priorities, standards, policies, and professional development. AI offers opportunities to reshape the way schools approach creation, problem-solving, learning, and communication.
According to a recent Pew Research survey, 84% of educators say there’s not enough time during their regular work hours to do tasks like grading, planning, paperwork, and answering work emails. At the same time, developments in artificial intelligence (AI) offer opportunities to reshape the way schools approach creation, problem-solving, learning, and communication. With the ever-growing list of demands and the improvements in AI, educators and administrators should explore how AI can help them save time and focus more on teaching and addressing learners’ needs.
Thanks to Microsoft’s commitment to education, educators now have access to a variety of powerful AI tools for free. These tools can help educators bring new opportunities to their schools by enhancing teaching, streamlining workflows, and providing personalized learning experiences. Whether you’re looking to create engaging lesson plans, provide detailed feedback, save time, or develop future-ready skills, these AI tools equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to make the most of Microsoft’s offerings. These free AI tools can support personalized learning, provide valuable insights and detailed feedback, and help with repetitive tasks. These tools include Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Learning Accelerators, Microsoft Teams for Education, Khanmigo for Teachers, and Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations.
Microsoft Copilot: Your Versatile AI Assistant
Microsoft Copilot is an AI tool that can create content like text, images, poems, and code. It offers AI-powered web chat using the latest AI models, enterprise data protection, and citations for the sources it uses. Copilot builds on the existing Bing search experience to provide a new way to find information, generate content, and accelerate tasks. For educators and learners signed in with their school account, enterprise data protection offers an ad-free interface tailored for educational environments.
Unlock Learners’ Full Potential with Learning Accelerators
Learning Accelerators is a category of AI-powered learning tools included in Microsoft 365 for Education. They help educators streamline the creation, review, and analysis of practice assignments for valuable skills. These tools support foundational and future-ready skills, providing learners with real-time coaching to help them catch up, keep up, and get ahead.
Save Time with Microsoft Teams for Education
Microsoft Teams for Education includes free AI-powered features that save educators valuable time. AI can draft rubrics, assignment instructions, learning objectives, and classwork modules. Educators can also use the Classwork AI module generation feature to save time and find inspiration for designing their Classwork modules.
Build AI Literacy and Digital Citizenship with Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations
Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations offers a set of accessible, engaging materials for building AI literacy. The program is designed to empower learners, educators, and families with a fundamental understanding of how AI works and how to use AI tools responsibly.
Maximize Class Preparation Time with Khanmigo for Teachers
Microsoft and Khan Academy have partnered to provide free access to Khanmigo for Teachers. This AI-powered teaching assistant streamlines class preparation tasks and gives educators more time and energy to spend with learners. Khanmigo offers standards-aligned lesson planning, on-demand summaries of recent learner work, and crafted learning objectives, rubrics, and exit tickets.
Improve Coding Skills with GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that helps educators and learners with developer scenarios. It can generate code snippets, suggest improvements, explain complex concepts, and provide personalized feedback. GitHub Copilot is free for all verified educators and learners aged 13 and older.
Get Started with AI Tools in School
Educators can focus on practical steps to integrate AI tools effectively in their classes. Start with a single AI tool that addresses one of your identified needs or goals, and gradually expand its use as you become more comfortable. Regularly assess the impact of the AI tool on your learners and your workload, and share your experiences with colleagues.
To learn more about these free AI tools, be sure to take the Microsoft Learn course – Embark on your AI journey with Microsoft’s free AI tools – and transform your teaching experience. You’ll find ways to streamline your workflows and have more time to focus on your learners!
