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Centre for Teaching Excellence

AI Tools and Platforms

The AI platforms listed here support teaching tasks such as lesson planning and content creation. This overview focuses primarily on tools available through institutional or public access, with an emphasis on those that can be used without additional paid subscriptions. We have also included selected specialised tools that offer targeted capabilities for specific teaching needs.

As AI platforms evolve rapidly, features and capabilities may change. Treat this overview as a starting point for experimenting with how AI can enhance your teaching practice.

Teaching Use Case Suggested Tools

Create Presentations

Top Pick

Copilot 
Copilot in PowerPoint
Microsoft 365 Copilot is SMU’s integrated AI solution and securely handles files and sensitive data. Find out more here. 

Other Options 

  • Claude 
  • ChatGPT (using Python code)

Other specialised tools: Gamma, Canva  

Research and literature review 

Top Pick

Gemini

Gemini's Deep Research mode offers more comprehensive searches and detailed responses.

Other Options 

  • NotebookLM
    (Responses are grounded in the provided sources. Notebooks can also be shared with students.)
  • Claude 
  • ChatGPT

Other specialised tools: Perplexity, Scopus, Undermind 

Create visual aids

Top Pick

ChatGPT 
ChatGPT
Explain concepts with visuals and infographics using the "Create Image" mode.

Other Options 

  • Gemini 

Generate quiz and practice questions

Top Picks

NotebookLM
NotebookLM
Questions generated align closely with sources, reducing the rate of error and effort required to remove out-of-scope questions.

Claude
Claude is better at creating questions which require higher order thinking skills.

Other Options 

  • ChatGPT
  • Gemini

Other specialised tools: Wooclap

Create custom chatbots and simulations

Top Pick

Gemini

Gemini’s Gems are free to use, easy to setup, use workspace documents as knowledge sources, and can be shared within the SMU community.

Create simple applications

Top Pick

Claude
Claude's Artifacts allow users to “vibe code” and share simple applications.

Other Options 

  • ChatGPT (Canvas feature) 

 * Capabilities described as of May 2026

While general-purpose AI platforms are often flexible enough to support a wide range of teaching tasks, specialised tools can provide specific capabilities and workflows that are better suited to particular types of content creation or teaching activities.

Other special purpose tools 

  • Course content & instructional design - CourseMagic
  • Realistic digital twin avatar videos – HeyGen