The Best AI Tools for Education(and how to use them):July 2023 Edition
Using AI to enhance, not replace, great teaching and learning.
We are currently using the worst form of AI we will ever use. Not only because the current AI tools are being constantly improved, but also because new and better AI tools are being released daily. As of March 2023, there were over 14,700 AI startups across diverse sectors in the United States alone. This proliferation means educators now face a dizzying array of emerging tools claiming to transform learning. However, the raw capabilities of any technology must align thoughtfully with pedagogical contexts to realize positive outcomes.
Through careful examination, I have identified 5 AI applications that offer strategic value for teaching and learning if deployed deliberately. This curated selection reflects my objective assessment of tools ready for prudent adoption today. They were chosen based on personal testing and evaluation of their alignment with research-backed learning principles. Please note this does not constitute a paid endorsement. My aim is to provide educators with an informed perspective on navigating the swell of AI solutions in order to realize benefits while mitigating risks.
I have opted not to cover large language models like ChatGPT, Bing, Bard, nor my personal favourite ClaudeAI, which, while impressive, require advanced technical prompt engineering skills and lack subject specificity. The tools highlighted here offer streamlined capabilities purpose-built for education and ready for educators to employ with little AI expertise required. Used judiciously, they exemplify how AI can start complementing quality instruction in accessible ways.
If you are still sceptical about integrating AI into education, I make a good case for using AI in education in one of my previous articles and emphasized the need for thoughtful, evidence-based adoption that centers on the human learning experience - not the tools themselves. Students must develop AI fluency, as these skills will only grow in demand. But we must do so in judicious ways that support learner agency and growth. Integrating any technology requires examining factors beyond mere functionality – how will it intersect with curriculum, assessments, and teacher effectiveness?
We must build AI literacy and agency, not passive reliance. In that spirit, the following innovations represent some current pinnacles of AI applied conscientiously to expand human potential in education, not supersede it.
1. SkyboxAI
This creative tool lets teachers and students construct 3D simulated worlds related to academic concepts, providing immersive spaces for experiential learning. Users simply describe the type of environment they want to create, and Skybox’s AI generates an interactive model.
Students could collaboratively design historical scenes to immerse themselves in past eras or model scientific phenomena like ecosystems. The act of articulating and creating the environment cements understanding. This aligns with constructionist learning theories championed by Seymour Papert where students gain deeper knowledge from designing artifacts versus just acquiring information.
How to use it:
-Visit SkyboxAI
-Describe the world you want and let the AI do the rest for you
2. Wiseone
This AI reading companion aims to enhance comprehension, critical thinking and self-directed learning. As students read online articles, Wiseone’s summarization tool condenses key ideas, helping identify central themes. This exercise promotes the kind of active reading strategies Harvey & Goudvis’s research links to improved reading outcomes.
It helps develop critical thinking skills while reading online. I was impressed by how it breaks down facts vs opinions and lets you cross-reference against other articles on the same topic. We desperately need to help students evaluate internet sources amidst all the misinformation out there. This tool scaffolds the process instead of just preaching it.
These dialogic reading activities centered around a digital mentor provide personalized pathways to construct knowledge, aligning with social constructivist principles. An 11th-grade English class could use Wiseone to actively analyze a challenging piece by unpacking vocabulary, checking claims, and querying unclear sections.
How to use it:
-Visit Wiseone
-Add it to your Chrome browser
-Enjoy all the features
3. Consensus
This academic search engine allows students to easily discover peer-reviewed studies related to inquiry topics. Rather than wading through generic web results, Consensus AI surfaces relevant journal articles and summaries. This expands access to advanced research, scaffolding students into higher stages of critical thinking.
This tool stretches learners into Vygotsky’s “zone of proximal development” to encounter authentic sources. The zone of proximal development concept emphasizes meeting students at their current capability and scaffolding just beyond. Systematic reviews have found increased science achievement when K-12 classrooms incorporate investigating primary scientific literature. With teacher guidance, Consensus can provide a structured entry point to integrating authentic research.
A high school environmental science student could use the tool to find studies on renewable energy. Analyzing real datasets helps cultivate research and data literacy skills essential for college and career readiness.
How to use it:
-Visit Consensus
-Type in your inquiry
-Get the results
4. Teachermatic AI
This platform aims to streamline administrative tasks that drain teacher time and energy. Features like automatic attendance, grade books, assignment tracking, and parent communication remove daily hassles. Reducing repetitive paperwork enables educators to focus on nurturing student relationships.
These human connections are fundamental to student success but difficult to foster amidst bureaucratic duties. Teachers experience increased job satisfaction after adopting organizational tools that automated non-instructional work. Teachermatic also provides collaborative curriculum-building tools to align instruction.
By stripping away tedium, the AI gives teachers precious time and mental bandwidth back to design engaging learning experiences. This human-centered approach increases teacher retention. According to learning theory pioneer Maslow, self-actualization cannot occur until basic needs are met – for both students and teachers.
How to use it:
-Visit Teachermatic
-Sign in
-Enjoy all the features
5. StableDoodle
This creative tool uses AI to refine children’s drawings and render them in different artistic styles. Students simply doodle on a digital canvas, and StableDoodle enhances their creation. This lowers barriers to artistic expression, appealing to visual learners' strengths as outlined in Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.
Studies on incorporating digital art programs have found benefits such as improved spatial cognition, creative confidence, and design thinking skills. StableDoodle’s unique AI capacities like style transfer and beautification provide an accessible pathway into arts education. A 2nd-grade teacher could have students create illustrated travel guides to complement a geography lesson.
How to use it:
-Visit Stable Doodle
-Sign in
-Start doodling
In a nutshell
What all these tools have in common is they target specific needs – whether creativity, critical thinking, teacher support, or access to resources. The more we can relieve pain points in the classroom, the more space we create for the human connections and inspiration that make teaching so rewarding. AI isn’t a silver bullet, but if targeted effectively, it can elevate learning in powerful ways. And that gets me really excited.
NB: If you want me to continue sharing my top AI tools for education like this every month end, please let me know. Thank you so much for reading the Value Junction. Please consider subscribing and sharing with your colleagues in order to support my work.