Are LLMs Useful in the Poorest Schools? TheTeacher.AI in Sierra Leone

TL;DR

This study explores the integration of a generative AI chatbot in Sierra Leonean schools, demonstrating its potential to support teachers with lesson planning and classroom management in resource-limited settings.

Contribution

It introduces a tailored AI tool for teacher professional development in Sierra Leone and provides initial evidence of its sustained use and practical benefits.

Findings

Teachers use AI for lesson planning and classroom management

Usage remains consistent over the school year

A subset of teachers engage with AI more regularly

Abstract

Education systems in developing countries have few resources to serve large, poor populations. How might generative AI integrate into classrooms? This paper introduces an AI chatbot designed to assist teachers in Sierra Leone with professional development to improve their instruction. We describe initial findings from early implementation across 122 schools and 193 teachers, and analyze its use with qualitative observations and by analyzing queries. Teachers use the system for lesson planning, classroom management, and subject matter. Usage is sustained over the school year, and a subset of teachers use the system more regularly. We draw conclusions from these findings about how generative AI systems can be integrated into school systems in low income countries.