Key points:
The role of a teaching assistant (TA), sometimes known as a paraprofessional, is more complex than ever. Whether helping students grasp complex concepts, supporting those who need extra guidance, or managing classroom behaviors, TAs are an essential support for student success. However, as entry level employees, they rarely receive all the training necessary to be immediately effective and are forced to learn as they go. The nationwide shortage of teachers has caused a similar shortage in the ranks of teacher assistants.
As generative artificial intelligence (AI) is supporting the creation of powerful tool suites that can enhance the teaching and learning process, it seems reasonable to identify some ways that teacher assistants can use these tools as well. TAs often work with individual students or small groups to support students, making learning more personalized, engaging, and efficient. From AI-powered tutoring that adapts to each student’s needs to real-time language translation for multilingual learners, these tools offer endless possibilities. AI can help students write stronger essays, solve tricky math problems, and even manage their stress levels, all while giving TAs more time to focus on what matters most–building meaningful connections with students.
Some specific ways TAs can utilize AI to support their students would include:
Paraphrasing: Rephrasing materials for lower reading levels. Because TAs often work with students who are working below grade level, TAs can take course materials and use a general chatbot or a specialized tool designed to support teachers, like MagicSchoolAI or Eduaide.ai, to reduce the reading level to make materials accessible for each student. Diffit provides leveled resources as well.
Summaries: For students with significant issues with reading or attention issues, TAs can use AI tools to summarize long passages of text. Nearly all generative AI tools offer a summary function. Documentor.cc is a free summarizing tool that offers both detailed and concise summaries. Evernote.com can be used to take student notes and provide a summary. SummarizeTech can assist TAs by summarizing videos, so they can focus on other materials while students watch a video.
Translations: Translating materials for non-native speakers is another potential use for AI. TAs who have an ESL case load can save significant time in using AI tools for translation services. MagicSchool.ai can translate into Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. DeepL can translate directly from PDFs, as well as from text. This can be helpful in reverse as well–if students are more comfortable writing in their native language, they can do so, and then the TA can translate it. Such software can help with parental communications as well.
Study guides and practice quizzes: TAs can use these tools to develop study guides and sample quizzes to help prepare students. In some cases, outlines can be drafted for students with difficulty in note taking, so the student can simply fill in the points on the outline. Kahoot and Revisely are good examples of quiz generators.
Concepts: Sometimes all educators can appreciate giving students another viewpoint in which to try to develop the understanding of difficult concepts. Teachmateai, for instance, allows educators to use a concept explainer tool to develop additional ways to explain a concept to students. Magicschool.ai has a scaffolding tool that can break complex concepts down to into smaller pieces that are easier to understand.
Behavior management: Classroom management is often identified as one of the most difficult issues in classrooms today. Though there is not yet a tool that can manage behavior directly, there are tools that provide educators with recommendations for managing behaviors, including tools in MagicSchool.ai. Classcraft is an example of a gamified behavior management tool for classrooms. Goblin Tools is a set of single-focus tools providing for the needs of neurodivergent students. TAs may find them useful when working with students on the autism spectrum.
The suggestions above do not require pedagogical knowledge beyond that expected from TAs, but TAs should be encouraged to check with their collaborating teacher when they have questions about the tools or their accuracy.
While artificial intelligence tools cannot replace the essential human connection and support that teaching assistants provide, they can significantly enhance a TA’s ability to serve diverse student needs effectively. By leveraging AI for tasks like differentiated content creation, translation, and behavior management support, TAs can spend more time focusing on what matters most–building relationships with students and providing individualized attention. These tools are particularly valuable given the current shortage of educational support staff and the limited training many TAs receive.
As AI technology continues to evolve, it offers a promising path forward for empowering teaching assistants to better support student learning, manage classroom dynamics, and create more inclusive educational environments. The key lies in thoughtful implementation, using AI as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, the invaluable human elements that make teaching assistants such crucial members of the educational team.
