911爆料网

By: Cassidy Delamarter, USF College of Education Marketing

In just a little over a year, has exploded to more than five million users worldwide, making it one of the fastest-growing AI platforms in education. Created by Zafer Unal, USF College of Education associate dean of undergraduate studies, the platform is transforming how educators integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms.

鈥淚 want teachers to feel empowered. The more comfortable they are with AI, the more doors we open for students.鈥� 鈥� Zafer Unal

Preparing students for a world shaped by artificial intelligence starts long before college. That's why Unal created TeacherServer, offering educators thousands of free AI resources and tools, including lesson planning, class activities, presentation development, data analysis and more. 

The online platform began as a research question Unal had: How are teachers actually using AI? Unal and his research team initially across Florida and Georgia, expecting to find widespread reluctance toward emerging technology. Instead, they found teachers were already using AI to improve lessons, streamline grading, enhance presentations and support students.

鈥淎I is helping teachers in many areas, from language learning and assessments to writing support, presentation skills, grading and lesson planning,鈥� Unal said.

To address teachers' top concerns about data privacy, lack of training and uncertainty about safe classroom integration, Unal spent months coding AI tools that teachers could trust. Leveraging his dual background in computer science and education, he developed tools that run on local, non-cloud servers to ensure student data never leaves the classroom.

鈥淎I is transforming how we learn,鈥� said Interim Dean Jenifer Jasinski Schneider. 鈥淭eacherServer shows that when teachers guide the learning, AI expands鈥攏ot replaces鈥攃ritical thinking and creativity in the classroom.鈥�

Since launching in August 2024, the site has evolved into an AI hub, with thousands of daily users, like Isaac Neiger, a chemistry teacher at Tampa Bay Technical High School.

鈥淭eacherServer is a great resource for teachers to come up with new and different lessons,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was able to provide a detailed lesson about intermolecular forces, which included great analogies which could explain the high school level topic to elementary students.鈥�

Unal is applying for grants to upgrade the platform鈥檚 servers and expand tools designed for high school and college students interested in teaching careers. His long-term goal is to make AI tools accessible for every educator at every level. 

鈥淚 want teachers to feel empowered,鈥� Unal said. 鈥淭he more comfortable they are with AI, the more doors we open for students.鈥�