Students take part in a programming class at a primary school in Yuhu district of Xiangtan city, Central China's Hunan province, April 11, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)
Chongqing — Southwest China’s first large AI model for teachers was launched in Chongqing, marking a major step in integrating artificial intelligence into classroom teaching and teacher training.
Developed by Southwest University, the “Shiyuan” Teacher Large Model draws on research involving more than 10,000 teachers and students and data from over 30,000 recorded classes. It models teacher–student “cognition, emotion, and behavior” interactions and sets theoretical and computational standards for defining what makes a good lesson.
Designed as an intelligent assistant for teachers, Shiyuan can observe classroom activities in real time, simulate expert evaluations, and generate diagnostic teaching reports. It offers personalized feedback for teachers at different career stages and supports data-driven lesson improvement by identifying weaknesses and creating targeted plans. The model can also analyze students’ learning challenges and design tailored exercises.
The system will be introduced in 100 primary and secondary schools across Southwest China. “It will help transform traditional classrooms into smart learning environments, shorten the growth cycle of new teachers and fill the gap in expert guidance, especially in Western China,” said Luo Shengquan, dean of the College of Teacher Education at Southwest University.
The project aligns with China’s national push for education digitalization. In April, the Ministry of Education and eight other departments issued guidelines calling for AI-based large models in moral education, science, art, and mental health, emphasizing personalized learning and data-driven school management.
AI use in education is rising nationwide. Shanghai Normal University launched China’s first teacher education large model last year, followed by Central China Normal University and Northeast Normal University. A 2025 survey shows that 81% of primary and secondary school teachers now use AI tools, mostly for lesson preparation, with growing applications in evaluation and management.