Will AI replace Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

45/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 45% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies. The parts that stay human include: Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.; Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.; Conduct classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects, such as basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies. 65%

Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.AI already used 57%

Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.AI already used 53%

Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. 47%

Assign and grade class work and homework. 38%

Conduct classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects, such as basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills. 35%

+ 31 more tasks (49% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Conduct classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects, such as basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for lesson materialsAI quiz and feedback toolsPresentation and image generators

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Materials and preparation

Lesson plans, tasks and differentiated materials with AI.
Quizzes and answer keys.
Check facts and age-appropriateness yourself.

Project

Use AI to build a two-week ESL unit on workplace communication at three reading levels, plus a quiz with answer key, then fact-check every item yourself and log hours saved.

Phase 2

Feedback and assessment

Rubrics and feedback drafts with AI.
Spotting common mistakes across student work.
Rules for student AI use and academic honesty.

Project

Draft an AI rubric for one writing assignment, generate feedback on 10 anonymized student samples, list the 5 most common errors, and publish a class AI-use policy.

Phase 3

Teaching with AI

Teach students to use AI critically.
Assignments that work with AI, not against it.
Share materials and practice with colleagues.

Project

Run a 60-minute lesson where students fact-check AI output against a trusted source, then redesign one assignment to be AI-assisted and share it with two colleagues.

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