M1 of 10
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M1 · Foundations
What Is AI? The Educator's Map
A 12-minute orientation. The four kinds of AI you'll meet, where they save you time, and the boundary you must never cross. By the end you'll know which AI tool to reach for in each classroom moment.
The four kinds of AI
Most teaching content talks about "AI" as if it's one thing. It isn't — and the distinction matters for classroom use.
Narrow AI — does one specific task well. Spelling checker, calculator, Google search. Built around a single goal. You probably use 6 of these before lunch.
Generative AI — produces new text / images / code. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini. This is the AI that changes how you plan, mark, and communicate.
Agentic AI — takes multi-step actions on your behalf. Books your meetings, drafts and sends emails, manages calendars. Emerging fast.
AGI — hypothetical general-purpose AI matching human cognition. Doesn't exist yet. Don't make classroom plans assuming it will arrive next year.
Where AI saves you time (and where it doesn't)
| Task | Before | With AI |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson plans | 90 min | 12 min |
| Differentiated worksheets (3 tiers) | 60 min | 8 min |
| End-of-term reports (30 students) | 6 hours | 45 min |
| Parent concern email | 30 min | 4 min |
| Marking exam scripts | — | Still you. AI cannot mark. |
The boundary you must never cross: AI does NOT replace the professional judgement you bring to assessment, safeguarding, or anything a student or parent depends on. AI drafts. You sign.
Knowledge check
Which of these is NOT a good use of generative AI in your classroom?
Exercise · 5 minutes
Audit one teaching week for AI time-savings
List 3–5 tasks you did last week that took more than 20 minutes and followed a similar shape each time. Those are your AI candidates.
M1 recap: AI is four different things, not one. Generative AI is the one that changes your teaching workflow. Use it to draft — never to replace your professional judgement.