Testing Productivity Tools: Can AI Really Save Teachers Time?

 As a fifth-grade teacher, I am always looking for ways to make lesson preparation easier without sacrificing the quality of what I give my students. Between planning lessons, grading, and everything else that comes with teaching, time is something that I never seem to have enough of! (Anyone else?) For this assignment, I wanted to see whether AI productivity tools could actually make a difference in my classroom.

My Task and Expectations

I chose to create an animal classification anchor chart aligned with Georgia Standard S5L1.s for an upcoming science unit. My goal was to make something colorful, accurate, and easy for fifth graders to understand. The chart needed to explain vertebrates, invertebrates, and the five major vertebrate groups. 

I tested the same task three ways: manually using Google Slides, with SchoolAI Dot, and with Canva AI. I expected both AI tools to save time, but I was curious about how much editing they would require.

Trial 1: Creating It Myself

First, I created the chart in Google Slides without AI assistance. This took 25 minutes. I had complete control over the information, images, and layout, which I appreciated. However, finding pictures, organizing the content, and adjusting took longer than I wanted. It reminded me how quickly small preparation tasks add up during a busy school week. 

Trial 2: SchoolAI Dot

Next, I used SchoolAI Dot with a prompt describing the same chart. To my surprise, it only took 4 minutes and 58 seconds! The result was bright, organized, and engaging. I could easily imagine my students being excited to look at it and use it during our lesson.

However, I noticed some scientific statements that needed clarification. This reminded me that AI-generated materials still require teacher review. Pathak (2022) explains that educational technology offers opportunities to improve access to information and to make learning more engaging through visual resources, but it also has limitations. This really resonated with my experience because SchoolAI Dot saved me a lot of preparation time, but I still had to draw on my own knowledge as a teacher to evaluate the information. It reminded me that just because something looks good and was created quickly does not mean it is ready to use in my classroom.

Trial 3: Canva AI

Finally, I tested Canva AI. I was already familiar with Canva, but this was my first time using its AI features. I thought this trial would be fairly simple. Well, that wasn't exactly how it went!

The entire process took 18 minutes and 46 seconds, including editing. After about 12 minutes, I was still trying to get the design just right. I liked the organized layout and labeled animal examples, but making adjustments took more patience than I expected.

Kipps and Jones (2020) explain how cloud-based productivity tools can improve workflow and present their advantages and disadvantages. My Canva experience showed me that having a productivity tool does NOT automatically make a task quick.

Comparing My Results

Method                        Time                Estimated Clicks            Cost to me

Google Slides               25:00                ~110                                District Provided

SchoolAI Dot                4:58                 ~15                                  District Provided

Canva AI                       18:46              ~75                                   District Provided

Looking at my results, SchoolAI was definitely the biggest time-saver. It saved me 20 minutes and 2 seconds compared to creating the chart myself. Canva AI saved me 6 minutes and 14 seconds, but I spent much more time adjusting the design than I expected. I also estimated the number of clicks involved in each process. Although I didn't count every click while working, Google Slides required approximately 110 clicks, Canva AI around 75, and SchoolAI Dot only about 15. These estimates reflect the time spent navigating, formatting, and editing with each tool. 

Another benefit is that all three platforms are provided through my school district, so I did not have any additional out-of-pocket expenses. This made cost less of a deciding factor for me. Instead, I focused on how much time each tool saved, how easy it was ot use, and whether the final product was something I could confidently share with my students. 

My Final Thoughts

If I had to choose one tool, School AI Dot would be my recommendation. It created a colorful, engaging anchor chart in the shortest amount of time. Canva AI was helpful, too, but I found myself spending more time editing and adjusting the design than I expected. Since all three tools are provided by my district, cost was not a deciding factor for me. Instead, I focused on which tool saved me the most time creating something useful for my classroom.

My biggest takeaway is that AI can be a helpful teaching assistant, but it cannot replace a teacher's judgment. I still need to check the information, make adjustments, and decide what works best for my students. For me, saving preparation time means having more energy to focus on what matters most- TEACHING!

Let's Continue the Conversation

I'm curious, have you tried using AI to create classroom materials? If so, did it actually save you time, or did you find yourself spending as much time making adjustments?

References

Kipps, K. L., & Jones, A. K. (2020). Things are looking up: Using cloud-based technology tools in collection management workflows. Serials Review, 46(3), 215–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2020.1806646

Pathak, T. (2022). Innovative technology in higher education: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Management & Public Policy, 13(2), 4–15. https://doi.org/10.47914/jmpp.2022.v13i2.001