Automation and Grading: How Technology can support teachers and improve student engagement

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), there were approximately 66 million primary school teachers and 28 million lower secondary school teachers worldwide in 2018. These figures do not include teachers at the upper secondary and tertiary levels, as well as informal and non-formal educators.

In the United States, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that there were approximately 3.7 million full-time equivalents (FTE) teachers in public elementary and secondary schools in the 2019-2020 school year.

Teachers spend a significant amount of their time on a variety of tasks, including planning and preparing lessons, delivering instruction, grading assignments and assessments, providing feedback to students, and managing classroom behaviour.

In addition to their teaching responsibilities, many teachers also participate in professional development activities to enhance their knowledge and skills, attend meetings and conferences, and engage in community service and outreach.

According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States, the average teacher spends approximately 49 hours per week on teaching-related activities, including 25 hours per week on actual instruction and another 24 hours on non-instructional activities such as grading and preparation. Additionally, they spend an average of approximately 2.5 hours per week providing written feedback to students on their assignments and assessments. This figure includes time spent grading, as well as providing specific comments and feedback on students' work. These may be in the form of written feedback, teachers may also spend time providing verbal feedback to students during class discussions, individual or small group conferences, and other interactions. The amount of time spent on verbal feedback may vary depending on the situation and the teacher's approach to feedback.

Using automation and technology in the classroom can help teachers to reclaim some of the time they spend on administrative and grading tasks, which can then be redirected towards providing more personalised and engaging instruction to students.

For example, with the help of technology, teachers can easily create and distribute individualised learning plans for their students, tailoring the content and pace of instruction to each student's needs and abilities. This can help to provide students with more meaningful and engaging learning experiences and allow teachers to focus on providing personalised feedback and support.

In addition, technology can also help teachers to connect with students outside of the classroom, providing them with additional support and resources through online platforms and communication tools. This can help to create a more mentorship-like relationship between teachers and students, where teachers can provide ongoing guidance and support to help students reach their full potential.

Overall, while technology cannot replace the personal touch and expertise of a human teacher, it can help to support teachers and enhance the personalisation and engagement of their instruction.

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