Choosing the Right ChatGPT Model for Teaching Tasks

And when to use Search, Deep Research, and Custom GPTs

ChatGPT is teachers' most popular AI tool, but it’s increasingly difficult to know which model(s) to use for specific teaching tasks. OpenAI introduces new ChatGPT models regularly, and teachers have little information on how to leverage them effectively.

So, let’s outline effective uses:

Choosing the Right ChatGPT Model for Teaching Tasks

With multiple models available—GPT-4, GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini, GPT-4.5, o3-mini, and o3-mini high—it’s important that K-12 teachers know which model best suits their specific tasks. Each model varies in speed, reasoning ability, accuracy, and content generation quality.

Also, while several models are free to use, GPT-4.5 is not yet freely available and o3-mini is restricted to paid subscribers.

With that said, and with ChatGPT’s help, below is a practical comparison guide, followed by task-based recommendations.

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ChatGPT Model Comparison for Teachers

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Which ChatGPT Model Should Teachers Use for Different Teaching Tasks?

Let’s break down the table:

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1. Lesson Planning & Curriculum Design

• Best Choice: GPT-4o

  • Fast, accurate, and creative—ideal for full lesson plans, unit outlines, and curriculum alignment.

  • Example prompt: “Create a Common Core-aligned 6th-grade math lesson plan on fractions with three differentiated activities.”

• Alternative: GPT-4.5 (If available)

  • Likely even stronger at writing detailed and research-based plans.

• Avoid: o3-mini, o3-mini high (too simplistic for structured curriculum planning).

2. Generating Activity Exercises

• Best Choice: GPT-4o

  • Generates differentiated exercises at various difficulty levels.

  • Example prompt: “Generate a 5-question geography activity for 7th grade with increasing difficulty.”

• Use GPT-4o mini if you need it FAST (but double-check for accuracy).

• For math & coding worksheets: o3-mini high (good logical structure for number-based questions).

3. Formative Assessments (Polls, Surveys, Quick Check-ins)

• Best Choice: GPT-4o mini

  • Fastest for low-stakes assessments like quiz forms.

  • Example prompt: “Generate a 10-question warm-up quiz on cell division.”

• Use GPT-4o if you want deeper critical thinking questions.

• Avoid: o3-mini (more prone to weak question phrasing).

4. Summative Assessments (Tests, Essays, Projects)

• Best Choice: GPT-4o

  • Highly accurate multiple-choice and open-ended questions.

  • Example prompt: “Create an AP-style DBQ (Document-Based Question) prompt with three historical sources.”

• For heavy writing-based assessments: GPT-4.5 (if available)

• Avoid: o3-mini, o3-mini high (lower accuracy, unreliable for high-stakes grading).

5. Providing Student Feedback & Rubrics

• Best Choice: GPT-4o

  • Excellent at personalized feedback on essays, math solutions, and projects.

  • Example prompt: “Provide constructive feedback for this student’s history essay using the IB grading rubric.”

• For faster but general feedback: GPT-4o mini.

6. Writing Teacher Communications (Emails, Reports, Parent Letters)

• Best Choice: GPT-4o mini

  • Lightning-fast for drafting emails, newsletters, and permission slips.

  • Example prompt: “Write a positive parent email about a student’s progress in reading.”

• For formal reports or detailed writing: GPT-4o.

7. Image & Visual Content Creation

• Best Choice: GPT-4o (with DALL·E 3)

  • Generates diagrams, illustrations, and infographics for lessons.

  • Example prompt: “Create an illustrated food chain diagram for a 5th-grade science lesson.”

8.AI for Student Use (if permitted)

• Best Choice: GPT-4o

  • Best conversational AI for tutoring, research guidance, and brainstorming.

  • Example prompt: “I am a 10th-grade student. Help me understand ecological factors impacting agriculture.”

• Use GPT-4o mini for quick study questions.

• Avoid: o3-mini (too prone to factual errors in student-facing work).

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ChatGPT Tools & Features

Beyond the base chat models, ChatGPT offers a suite of tools and features that can be useful in teaching. These include web browsing capabilities, research reporting, voice interactivity, custom GPTs, image generation, and experimental video creation.

Let’s focus on Search, Deep Research, and Custom GPTs:

I. ChatGPT Search

Purpose: Fetch up-to-date information and verify facts

ChatGPT Search can be extremely useful for lesson content that needs current examples (e.g. recent events in social studies) or when you want sources to verify facts. For instance, a history teacher might use the Search tool to have ChatGPT pull in facts about a recent election or a new scientific discovery to include in a lesson.

Best Use Cases:

• Finding current examples for lessons (e.g., recent elections, new scientific discoveries)

• Using ChatGPT as a research assistant to quote web articles and summarize key points

• Modeling good research habits by verifying AI-generated information

Considerations:

• Always double-check sources for accuracy

• Ensure compliance with school policies on internet usage

II. ChatGPT Deep Research

For more in-depth inquiry, teachers can leverage ChatGPT to do deep research on a topic. This might involve feeding it longer texts to analyze or asking it to compare multiple documents. For example, an English teacher could input two poems and prompt ChatGPT to analyze themes and compare styles, or a science teacher could upload lab data for ChatGPT to interpret.

Purpose: Conduct in-depth analysis of texts and data

Best Use Cases:

• Analyzing and comparing literature (e.g., thematic analysis of poems)

• Examining lab data or scientific reports

• Summarizing lengthy academic documents for lesson preparation

Considerations:

• ChatGPT’s analysis should be reviewed for accuracy and nuance

• Use it to save time but apply educator expertise for final interpretation

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Consult my recent article for a deeper look at Deep Research:

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III. Custom GPTs (Personalized AI Assistants)

Another useful feature is the ability to create or use custom GPTs – essentially tailor-made AI personas or specialized assistants. Teachers can build their own or access community-created GPTs designed for specific tasks.

Purpose: Create specialized AI personas for targeted educational tasks

Best Use Cases:

• “Socratic Tutor GPT” for problem-solving guidance

• “Common Core Aligner GPT” for lesson-to-standard mapping

• “Grammar Coach GPT” for personalized writing feedback

Considerations:

• Review the output of pre-made GPTs to ensure alignment with teaching needs

• Custom GPTs can act as virtual co-teachers but require educator oversight

Conclusion

Selecting the right ChatGPT model and AI tool depends on the specific demands of each teaching task. GPT-4o is the best all-around model for lesson planning, assessments, and student feedback, while GPT-4o mini excels at quick tasks like brainstorming and formative assessments. Tools like Browsing Mode and Deep Research Mode help teachers integrate up-to-date information and analyze complex content. That said, teachers should always verify AI-generated content for accuracy and ensure compliance with school policies.

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