Introduction: Embracing AI Without the Overwhelm
In a world where AI tools are flooding the education landscape, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in options. If you’re a teacher looking for smart ways to ease your workload, enrich your classroom, or simply get started with AI, you’re not alone. That’s why education technology specialist Eric Curts handpicked five beginner-friendly AI tools that are teacher-tested, free to try, and designed to save you time while enhancing student learning. These tools are not just bells and whistles—they serve real classroom needs like feedback generation, assessment creation, content re-leveling, and even educational songwriting.
1. Brisk Teaching: Your AI Swiss Army Knife
If there’s one AI tool you’ll want in your digital toolbox, it’s Brisk Teaching. Known for its versatility, Brisk can create:
- Quizzes
- Slideshows
- DOK-leveled questions
- Guided notes
- Lesson plans
- Writing feedback
Even better, it enables custom student activities like debates, tutor sessions, and chats with historical figures. The Chrome extension means it works seamlessly across platforms—whether you’re viewing YouTube, PDFs, or Google Docs. No more juggling multiple tools or switching tabs—Brisk goes where you go.
👉 Free Plan: 40+ tools
🔓 Paid Plan: More tools, stronger AI, and unlimited usage
2. Snorkl: AI-Powered Oral and Visual Assessment
Not every student thrives in writing-based assessments. That’s where Snorkl shines. It lets students:
- Record spoken answers
- Draw on digital whiteboards
- Submit answers in multimodal formats
Teachers simply input a sample answer and select subject/grade level. In under a minute, Snorkl grades responses with three personalized feedback statements, focusing on accuracy and explanation.
🎙️ Perfect for math walkthroughs, science diagrams, or civic discussions.
🎁 Free Plan: Up to 20 active assignments
🏫 Paid Plan: Unlimited assignments, dashboards, and advanced reporting
3. NotebookLM: Customize AI With Your Content
Generic chatbots are trained on vast public data—but what if you want AI to focus on your specific curriculum? NotebookLM does just that. Upload:
- Google Docs
- PDFs
- Slides
- Audio
- YouTube links
Then, generate DOK questions, study guides, timelines, and FAQs, all based on your own sources. Bonus? It creates AI-generated podcast-style summaries—a fun, student-friendly way to recap lessons.
🗂️ Free Plan: 100 notebooks, 50 sources each
🚀 Paid Plan: 500 notebooks, 300 sources each, plus more customization
4. TeacherServer: Prompt-Free Lesson Creation
Creating prompts for chatbots can be a headache. TeacherServer removes the guesswork. Run by the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, this 100% free platform generates:
- Lesson plans
- Rubrics
- Experiment ideas
- What-if history scenarios
- Exercise routines
Simply enter grade level, subject, and a few key details. With over 1,000 built-in tools, TeacherServer covers science, PE, math, reading, art, and more.
✅ No ads
✅ No paywalls
✅ No AI experience required
5. Suno: Turn Lessons Into Catchy Songs
Ever wish you could sing your way through science class? Suno helps teachers create original songs to teach any subject. Just describe the type of song you want—e.g., “a hip-hop track about the Boston Tea Party”—or upload your own lyrics.
Suno then produces two fully produced versions, including vocals and music. Perfect for memorable lessons in history, biology, or even math (yes, there’s a rap about trapezoids!).
🎵 Free Plan: 50 credits/day = 10 songs
🎶 Paid Plan: Up to 2,500 monthly credits
Conclusion: Start Small, Grow Fast with AI in the Classroom
You don’t need to be a tech wizard to start using AI in your teaching. Whether you need a better way to generate quizzes, assess students creatively, or even create engaging learning songs, these tools offer high-quality, low-barrier entry points. Most importantly, they’re free to start, teacher-approved, and focused on enhancing—not replacing—your classroom magic.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the vast universe of AI in education, take a breath and start with these five. They’ll make your teaching life easier, your students more engaged, and your tech confidence soar.
