Education Endowment Foundation Trials ChatGPT to Ease Teacher Workload

In a pioneering initiative, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is set to explore the potential of ChatGPT in reducing teachers' workload. 

The trial, one of the first of its kind, seeks secondary schools to participate in examining the effectiveness of 'Teaching with ChatGPT', an online resource designed to assist in lesson and resource preparation for key stage 3 science classes. This programme, developed by Bain & Company's social impact arm and The Hg Foundation, aims to facilitate teachers in creating customised lesson plans, activities, and assessments using AI.

A total of 58 schools will be randomly divided into two groups, with one employing ChatGPT and the other serving as a control group. The trial will include online diary entries, surveys, and submission of lesson plans for independent evaluation by a panel of teachers, assessing the AI generated material's quality.

AI's prominence in education is increasingly recognised. A recent poll by Teacher Tapp shows that 42% of teachers have AI tools like ChatGPT to help with school work.

At the recent BETT education show, Lord Jim Knight, former minister of state for schools, told the audience, “The reality is AI is here to stay,” labelling it “highly naive” to think otherwise.

Professor Becky Francis, Chief Executive of the EEF, highlights the significance of this trial in understanding AI's role in transforming teaching methodologies. 

She says, "The findings from this trial will be an important contribution to the evidence base, bringing us closer to understanding how teachers can use AI to their advantage in their classrooms." Schools participating in the trial will also receive a 'thank you' payment for their contribution.

Schools can sign up here.