Making use of AI in the Classics classroom

Abstract This article follows a session on ‘Using AI in the Classics Classroom’ delivered at the University of Cambridge Mentors’ Day for the Classics PGCE (Initial Teacher Education programme). The first half of the article provides a brief introduction to how generative AI operates and the impact AI has had on education in the UK. In addition, this section considers the advantages of AI for educators in supporting PGCE students and early career teachers, aiding with planning and resource creation as well as the advantages for pupils. It also sets out practical limitations such as AI hallucinations, biases, database limitations, data protection concerns, and the potential risks of pupils developing reliance on AI usage and how teachers can avoid this. The second half of this article provides guidance and examples of how teachers can use AI to support their workload outside of the classroom and for using AI with pupils in the classroom. This includes advice on how to improve AI prompts, example prompts, and prompt scaffolds, as well as recommendations of AI tools for teachers to use in the classroom.