What Teachers Need to Know About AI Grading Tools

We know that teachers spend countless hours poring over student work, scribbling comments, and assigning grades. AI grading tools can assess student writing with a high degree of consistency and efficiency, grading large volumes of assignments much faster than a human could. Furthermore, they offer immediate, targeted feedback, helping students understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

What Teachers Need to Know About AI Grading Tools

LMS Integration

Does the AI grader sync with your Learning Management System? This can save significant time in uploading assignments and returning grades. For example, CoGrader, Enlighten AI, and Graded Pro integrate with Google Classroom, while Timely Grader connects with Canvas. A few tools connect to more than one LMS.

Plagiarism Detection

Some AI grading tools include plagiarism detection features, which can help ensure academic integrity. However, it is important to note that plagiarism detection tools are not foolproof. They can sometimes flag instances of plagiarism that are not actually plagiarism, and they can sometimes miss instances of plagiarism that are actually plagiarism. Additionally, while some tools claim to detect AI-generated content, they may not always be accurate.

Teachers should therefore use plagiarism detection tools with caution and always use their own professional judgment to determine whether plagiarism has actually occurred.

Feedback Customization

Can you customize the type of feedback the AI provides? Look for tools that allow you to prioritize specific criteria or tailor feedback to your students' needs. For instance, with Graded Pro you can use various tags to adapt the feedback for different purposes, such as reinforcing critical thinking, creativity, or specific skill sets.

You should also consider whether the AI grader allows you to upload multiple grading criteria documents, such as rubrics, standards, and writing guidelines. Many AI graders limit you to one upload, which can be restrictive.

Tip: Combine all the documents into a single PDF.

Cost

AI grading tools come with varying price points. Some, like EnlightenAI, are currently free, while most operate on a freemium model. Consider your budget and the features you need most when making a decision. Note: Turnitin's Gradescope and Feedback Studio are impressive tools, but they cannot be purchased directly by teachers — only by institutions.

Student Privacy

Ensure that the AI tool you choose complies with student privacy regulations and protects student data. Every AI company aims to have its systems used by companies and educational institutions, so they are working to address privacy issues.

Additional Considerations

● Standards Alignment: Does the AI grader support state standards and specific curricula like AP or IB? Most tools offer alignment with state standards, and Graded Pro supports Common Core standards as well as IB curriculum, UK GCSE and A levels.

●Assignment Generation: Can the AI tool also generate assignments? Some AI teaching assistants, like MagicSchool, offer both assignment generation and assessment capabilities, which can streamline your workflow. Class Companion also includes many English, social studies, science, and AP assignment templates.

●Other Features: Consider whether the AI grader can assess handwritten essays (most can), allows batch uploading and grading, or can evaluate visual elements.

● New tools arrive frequently. Kangaroo AI Grader has already gained popularity and hasn't even been officially released yet!

ChatGPT: A Powerful Alternative

Most AI grading tools don't disclose which large language model (LLM) they use. This lack of transparency is concerning because the quality of the LLM is the most important determinant of how well the AI understands context, provides tailored content, and offers creative solutions. Most AI tools for education use the less advanced GPT-3.5 large language model, which can negatively impact their performance and accuracy.

ChatGPT, powered by the more advanced GPT-4o model, is a powerful alternative to dedicated AI grading tools. It tends to offer better-tailored assessment and more targeted feedback because of its superior LLM. Additionally, it lets you upload multiple files and integrates with Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive, giving you more flexibility than many dedicated AI graders.

Oh, and ChatGPT is free.

However, ChatGPT lacks features that teachers deem desirable, such as LMS integration and specialized rubric tools. It also requires you to be relatively adept at creating AI prompts.

Dedicated AI grading tools, while typically using less advanced LLMs, offer conveniences like streamlined prompting and other time-saving automation specifically for educational settings.

Recommendations

  1. Critically evaluate the AI tools you're considering. Ask about the LLM they're using and how it impacts the quality of grading and feedback.

2.Consider using a mix of a dedicated AI grading tool and a more advanced AI tool like ChatGPT. This strategy might give you both specialized, time-saving features and the highest-quality, most tailored feedback.

3.Always provide human oversight. While AI can be a powerful assistant, it shouldn't completely replace your judgment in grading and assessment.

4.Invest some time in understanding and improving your AI prompting skills. This could help you get the most out of a more advanced LLM when needed.

5.Learn more about AI grading tools. You can find an extensive review of AI grading tools at AI Tools for Teacher Grading & Feedback.

Remember, the future of education isn't about saving time — it's about reimagining what's possible in the classroom. Let's always keep our students' learning at the heart of our efforts.