AI for lesson plans: How Abu Dhabi teachers use tech to save time, teach better

Over a hundred teachers from Abu Dhabi schools have been trained to use artificial intelligence (AI) for innovative teaching methods – like cracking jokes to producing full-on nursery rhymes – and streamlining administrative tasks to save time.

Teachers who underwent the newly launched ‘AI for Teachers’ programme by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) last February have already put their training to use in classrooms as well as through shared their newly acquired knowledge with colleagues.

“The way we design the ‘AI for teachers’ programme is to give educators the skills and the tools to leverage AI in their teaching,” said Dr Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Executive Director of the Higher Education Sector, Adek. “So, we’re not promoting any type of AI or any type of tool, but of course we’re exposing them to use different types of tools and then giving them ways to incorporate that into their teaching cycle.”

The initiative utilises AI tools to assist teachers in creating lesson plans, grading assignments, and generating reports efficiently. This not only saves time but also improves the quality of education by allowing teachers to personalise learning experiences.

Dr Al Shoaibi explained that teachers spend a significant amount of time on administrative tasks that do not necessarily contribute to classroom engagement. He noted that AI can assist by generating initial drafts of reports and feedback, which teachers can then refine and personalise.

Additionally, AI-powered tools are assisting educators in assessing performance of students more effectively. “For example, a teacher can upload their presentation or lesson material, and an AI tool can generate a multiple-choice quiz based on that content,” he noted. “The teacher still needs to review and validate it, but this significantly reduces the workload.”

The education sector has long struggled with balancing teaching responsibilities and administrative work and Adek has recognised the need for an innovative solution to address this challenge.  “There’s no replacement for the teacher; the teacher will always be the core of education,” said Dr Al Shoaibi. “You can have the best systems in the world, but you need to have a passionate, motivational, inspirational teacher who knows how to inspire learning.”

Therefore, the programme aims to empower Adek teachers “to do what they do best – connecting with students.”

Dr Al Shoaibi further explained how teachers are leveraging AI tools to enhance lessons. “Let’s say I am teaching quadratic equations today. There are AI tools where I can say, ‘I want to use humour in my classroom. Give me jokes that are related to quadratic equations,’ and AI will generate jokes that I can use. I used to be a professor of chemical engineering, and I remember how important it was to incorporate humour into lessons.”

He added that AI can also generate creative teaching material for younger students. “Let’s say I’m teaching national identity topics like the currency of the UAE or the national tree of the UAE. AI can not only write lyrics for a nursery rhyme but also generate music and produce a video. Previously, this would require a production company, but now these tools are readily available at our fingertips.”

To ensure teachers effectively integrate AI into their work, Adek has designed a structured three-stage training programme. The first phase involves a pre-bootcamp survey to assess familiarity with AI and gather samples of teaching materials. The second phase is a two-day in-person bootcamp exposing teachers to AI tools for different stages of teaching.

“The last of the three-tiered approach is actually, in my opinion, the most powerful, which is a two-week capstone,” said Dr Al Shoaibi. “Teachers return to their classrooms and apply what they’ve learned, working in small, diverse groups to discuss their experiences.”

Dr Al Shoaibi stressed the importance of diversity in the cohorts. “Typically, a cohort consists of 25 to 30 teachers, and we spend a lot of time ensuring that the group is diverse – language teachers, social science teachers, teachers from charter schools, private schools, younger and older educators. This mix enriches the capstone discussions as teachers share insights and solve problems together.”

When asked about expanding the programme, Dr Al Shoaibi said the programme will eventually be rolled out to include all teachers under Adek schools. “We have been very pleasantly surprised by teachers going back to their campuses and sharing their knowledge with their colleagues. So, we’re looking at that model as well, now that it happened organically.

“When you see a passionate teacher telling their colleagues about something cool that they learned, we see a lot of value in that,” he added. He recalled an inspiring story from the previous cohorts. “We had a father and son — one an experienced head teacher, the other a young teacher — who both attended different cohorts. The son joined first, and his father was so excited about what he learned that he kept applying until he got in. That’s just one example of how impactful this programme has been.”

He emphasised that the programme aligns with the UAE’s broader AI strategy. “This programme is part of our mission to improve educational standards, and it aligns with the UAE’s AI strategy, which aims to make the country a global leader in AI. We are not working in isolation; this is part of a bigger orchestra.”

Dr Al Shoaibi also revealed plans to develop an Arabic-language version of the programme. “Currently, the programme is in English. We are now working on a version that caters to subjects taught in Arabic.”