Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “grade work and write feedback for students”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

240 min
typically, once a week
35%
of the time can be automated
Easy
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

AIBest fix

Use AI to draft feedback against your rubric, then check it

Teacher AI tools can read student writing and draft feedback against your rubric. You check, adjust and decide the grade, so feedback gets faster and more consistent.

Typically saves about 35% of the time10 min to set up
  1. 1Use a district-approved tool: Brisk (inside Google Docs), MagicSchool, or Gemini in Google Classroom.
  2. 2Give it your rubric and the level of feedback you want.
  3. 3Read each draft and change anything that does not fit the student.
  4. 4You decide the grade; do not let the AI grade alone.
  5. 5Use only tools your school or district has approved for student data (FERPA). Leave out student names and private details unless the tool is approved for them.
Prompt to copy
Using this rubric: [PASTE RUBRIC], give feedback on the student work below for a [GRADE] student. Give two specific strengths with quotes from the work, two next steps written to the student in kind, plain words, and a suggested rubric level for each row with a one-line reason. Do not rewrite the work for them.

Student work (no name): [PASTE]

Tools: Brisk · MagicSchool · Gemini in Google Classroom · Microsoft Copilot

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Use self-marking quizzes that send scores to the gradebook

Quizzes in Google Forms, Microsoft Forms, Canvas or Wayground (formerly Quizizz) mark themselves and can send scores to the gradebook. You look at the results, not every paper.

Typically saves about 50% of the time30 min to set up
  1. 1Turn your next multiple-choice or short-answer check into a quiz in your platform.
  2. 2Set the answer key and points.
  3. 3Turn on grade sync or import scores to your gradebook.
  4. 4Use the results report to see which questions most students missed.

Tools: Google Forms quizzes · Microsoft Forms · Canvas or Schoology quizzes · Wayground (formerly Quizizz) · Formative

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Have you tried AI that drafts feedback on student writing against your rubric?
Tools like Brisk work inside Google Docs and draft feedback for you to check. You still decide the grade.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Teacher

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

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Other common tasks for Teachers