Teachers-in-the-Lead Sandboxes
Exploring how teachers can shape the use of AI development in education to improve learning outcomes
As AI reshapes education globally, much of the debate focuses on what algorithms can and cannot do, often overlooking the people and skillset that matters most: teachers. The future of education isn’t just about new tools, but about who designs and guides their use.
We believe AI offers a real opportunity to upgrade, disrupt, and transform education systems, not by replacing teachers, but by empowering them. AI could automate routine tasks, free up time for instruction, and support more equitable learning, but only if it is shaped by the people who know classrooms best.
Through our Teacher-in-the-Loop survey, we heard from hundreds of educators across low- and middle-income countries about how AI is already influencing their work — from reducing administrative burdens to raising new challenges around trust, quality of learning and equity. These are early but illustrative findings which we think help us better understand how teachers experience this new technology.
But we’ve also been listening to the discourse evolving around us.
- Recent work, including the ‘International Task Force on Teachers’ position paper on strengthening teacher agency in the age of AI, has underscored the importance of placing teachers’ voice, creativity and professional judgement at the heart of decision-making.
- Notably in ‘Beyond the Loop: Reclaiming Pedagogy in the AI Age’, Daniela Hau has challenged the very framing of “teachers-in-the-loop,” arguing that educators should not inherit and implement AI systems — instead, teachers should lead in defining their purpose, use, and ethical boundaries, with learning and pedagogy at the centre of these decisions.
We’ve heard — and been inspired by — these arguments. We’re now launching three Teachers‑in‑the‑Lead Sandboxes to explore whether AI-enabled tools, designed with teachers in the lead, can help unlock more effective and equitable learning.
Our hypothesis ➜
If teachers are meaningfully engaged in shaping how AI is used, we will unlock more learning.
How we’re putting this into practice ➜
- Running three teachers‑in‑the‑loop sandboxes so partners directly explore and elevate teachers’ voices.
- Listening closely to teachers to surface real‑world challenges, priorities, and aspirations.
- Developing actionable, context-aware recommendations for AI developers, policymakers, and educational stakeholders, to help them build tools and systems that truly support teachers and meet their needs.
The Sandboxes: Spotlight on participating partners
We are partnering with three organisations already driving innovation in education, working closely with teachers to explore how AI can support classroom practice. These sandboxes are powered by teachers’ expertise, testing how AI can be utilised in real-world contexts to amplify their impact and improve learning outcomes.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, Taleemabad is working alongside primary school teachers in government schools across a mix of rural and urban contexts. The team noticed that teachers in their network spend a lot of time on administrative and preparatory work and that they are left with limited capacity to focus on student learning. The sandbox will help to explore the potential of AI tools to reduce teacher workload so that they have more time to focus on effective classroom instruction.
Rwanda
In Rwanda, Rising Academies are setting up a sandbox where the team is already piloting several AI-powered tools with teachers in public schools. Their sandbox will focus on Tari, a Whats-App on-demand guidance for teachers.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, the Aga Khan Foundation is working with primary and secondary school teachers in Dar es Salaam and Lindi. Here, teachers are leveraging developments in AI to provide more personalized, high-quality learning experiences for students.
What is the opportunity ➜
The Teachers-in-the-Lead Sandbox initiative began by working closely with teachers to explore areas where AI could have the most impact. Through dialogue, co-design, and hands-on experimentation, these sandboxes aim to surface practical ways AI can both support teachers and enhance learning outcomes.
Over four months, partners will develop and test prototypes of AI-enabled tools. By collaborating with teachers and education experts, they will test solutions in real classroom contexts, gather insights, and iteratively refine both the tools and approaches.
The sandboxes are not about delivering polished solutions or silver bullets. Instead, they are designed to support learning and teacher-led experimentation in order to generate evidence on what works, and crucially what doesn’t, regarding the tools themselves, and methods to bring teachers into the lead.
By connecting sandbox partners across contexts, we aim to accelerate collective learning and share actionable recommendations for AI developers, policymakers, and implementers.
As a programme that’s designed to support exploration, learning and rapid prototyping, we’ll be using this space to share early insights and resources from across the three sandboxes.
Insights and resources ➜
Teacher-in-the-Loop Survey
Creating space for the voice of teachers in the age of AI.
