It seems to nearly always be the marking load which wears down even the most dedicated and enthusiastic teachers. It doesn’t take very long before the words start to swim and swirl in your vision, meanings blending and student names converging into some kind of bland assessment blancmange. That’s Essay Brain. And so the empty-eyed thousand-yard stare of a tired teacher just before coursework deadline day is something one has to behold to believe. I know I could train an AI model to mark for me. I’ve been shown the ways. The druids of the new age have shared their secrets. I have heard the wide-eyed promises of the true believers. So I know I could feed the AI the specification, upload some already-graded exemplars and just set it off running. Then the students could even mark their own work, the machinery of Palo Alto swallowing their words whole and spitting out an uncomprehending but apparently sensible mark. The time I saved could then fruitfully be used elsewhere. I’d be unburdened of the part of the job that most wears me down. And the students would be satisfied too. No turn-around time to wait for your marks, no sad imploring for feedback. Gone the desperate impatience when the teacher still hasn’t marked it yet. It would be instant. And accurate. Students would learn and the world would at last be great. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits. subscribe If you have an account, please login. Sign in