Teachers See ChatGPT and AI as Tools to Spend Less Time on Paperwork and More Time With Students

Teachers worldwide are beginning to see the potential of AI, and in particular ChatGPT for teachers, as a way to reduce the endless admin that weighs them down. From writing reports to planning lessons and answering emails, educators are exploring how ChatGPT in education can save time, reduce stress, and allow them to do what they entered the profession to do: teach students.

“As a teacher, I am stretched thinner than I have ever been”

In an interview with Business Insider, Zak Cohen, a middle school director in Louisville, Kentucky, described the challenge clearly:

“As a teacher, I am stretched thinner than I have ever been.”

Cohen is nonetheless positive about the future, thanks in part to ChatGPT teaching applications. He believes AI tools could significantly reduce repetitive tasks, from grading papers to responding to emails.

His school produces around 200 narrative student reports every year, which takes teachers roughly 30 hours each. By using ChatGPT to create templates and fill in details such as names and achievements, Cohen thinks educators can streamline this process and reclaim valuable time.

“This is going to save teachers a lot of work,” he said.

ChatGPT Education Benefits: Reports, Emails, and Feedback

Cohen also sees ChatGPT in education going far beyond report writing.

• Faster grading – AI could deliver almost instant feedback on student work, highlighting where learners are struggling and helping teachers adapt lessons quickly.
  
• Email support – Teachers could use ChatGPT to draft responses to parents, preventing the “infinite loop of late-night email exchanges.”
  
• Student support – ChatGPT could answer basic student questions, freeing up teachers to focus on deeper, more personalised learning.
  

Ultimately, Cohen believes that ChatGPT for teachers can “support their sanity and protect the sanctity of their time.”

A UK Perspective on ChatGPT Teaching Tools

Stephen Lockyer, a UK primary school teacher with over two decades of experience, has also been exploring AI in the classroom.

He has:

• Used DALL·E to generate “enigmatic” learning aids, including modern-day mugshots of King Henry VIII’s six wives for a history class.
  
• Turned to ChatGPT for instant lesson planning, generating a full project on volcanoes in less than a minute, which he described as a “gigantic jumping-off point.”
  
• Trialled ChatGPT to create comprehension questions linked to reading assignments, producing practical handouts that saved hours of preparation.
  

“There’s an awful lot of paperwork involved in teaching,” Lockyer told Insider. “I want to work as smart as possible, not as hard as possible.”

Balancing Enthusiasm with Caution

Not all education leaders share this optimism. Some worry that easier access to AI could fuel plagiarism and shortcut-taking. New York City schools, for example, have banned ChatGPT from their devices and networks.

Still, Lockyer argues that schools should experiment carefully:

“Educational leaders should experiment a little bit. Used smartly, ChatGPT could get rid of the senseless grind and allow teachers to spend more time with their students.”

Beyond ChatGPT: CiCi, AI for Careers Education

While ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool, the UK has also seen the rise of specialist AI designed for schools, such as CiCi, the curated careers chatbot developed by CareerChat UK.

CiCi shows how AI can support career guidance in education:

• Always available – Students can chat with CiCi anytime, anywhere, exploring career pathways on their phones or laptops.
• Safeguarding built in – Unlike ChatGPT, CiCi is designed specifically for education, with robust safeguarding features that ensure interactions remain safe, appropriate, and accountable.
  
• Human connection – When CiCi reaches its limits, it can pass students on to a careers adviser, along with a summary of the conversation.
  
• Accurate data – CiCi is integrated with the UK’s LMI for All, ensuring guidance is based on up-to-date labour market information.
  
• Inclusive design – Features like text-to-speech and multilingual support mean all students can benefit.
  

Much like ChatGPT reduces admin for teachers, CiCi lightens the load in careers education, giving schools the reassurance that students are supported while freeing staff to focus on high-value, personal interactions.

The Future of ChatGPT in Education

Stories from Cohen and Lockyer highlight the growing interest in ChatGPT teaching tools. The message is consistent: AI is not here to replace teachers, it’s here to help them.

• ChatGPT for teachers offers time savings in admin-heavy tasks like report writing, grading, and communication.
  
• Specialist platforms like CiCi demonstrate how AI can extend these benefits to other areas of education, such as careers guidance.
  

The challenge now is responsible adoption: training teachers, ensuring fair use, and keeping student wellbeing at the centre, which is exactly what CiCi offers. 

For many educators, ChatGPT in education represents a chance to cut out the “senseless grind” of paperwork and refocus on teaching. Teachers like Cohen and Lockyer are already proving how ChatGPT teaching support can save hours each week, while UK innovations like CiCi show the additional value of specialist AI tools.

The future of AI in schools is still being written, but one thing is clear: the right balance of technology and human expertise could help teachers spend less time at their desks  and more time with their students.

See how CiCi can save you time, engage your students, and deliver safe, personalised career guidance.

Source: Business Insider