6,000 Teachers to Learn AI Tools in Russia’s Sverdlovsk Region
About 6,000 educators in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region will soon begin training on how to use artificial intelligence tools in the classroom. The professional development program, launched by Yandex together with the Sverdlovsk Regional Institute for Education Development, aims to help teachers integrate neural network technologies into everyday teaching while improving the quality and personalization of learning.
The initiative is expected to reach approximately 6,000 teachers from schools, lyceums and gymnasiums across the region. In the future, the program could expand to include up to 15,000 educators from other regions of the Russian Federation.
The course consists of 36 academic hours. Participants will start with the fundamentals of working with neural networks before moving on to practical scenarios for applying AI in daily teaching. The curriculum includes expert-led webinars, independent practice assignments and ready-made lesson templates that educators can adapt for their subjects and grade levels.
AI as a Teaching Assistant
The program emphasizes thoughtful and responsible use of technology. Teachers will learn how neural networks can help them prepare assignments with varying levels of difficulty, create visual learning materials and design interactive lesson formats. The system can suggest alternative task formulations, select real-world examples and generate illustrations for complex topics. These tools can save teachers hours of routine work and allow them to focus more on student engagement.
The course also addresses ethical considerations. A separate module focuses on academic integrity, where teachers will learn how to identify AI-assisted cheating and how to discuss responsible AI use with students. The goal is not to ban technology but to help students understand how to use it thoughtfully – as a tool rather than a “magic solution.”
From Math to Literature
Unlike narrowly specialized training programs, the course is open to teachers from all academic disciplines. A mathematics teacher may receive problem sets with step-by-step solutions, a history teacher can generate curated lists of primary sources, and a literature instructor can develop essay prompts. The platform adapts to the specifics of each subject while maintaining a unified methodological framework.
Practical assignments are designed to simulate real teaching situations, such as preparing a lesson within a limited timeframe, working with students who have different levels of knowledge or creating materials for children with special educational needs. This approach allows teachers to immediately apply their new skills in real classrooms.
Benefits for Students
Integrating neural networks into the learning process will support more personalized education. By reducing routine tasks, teachers will have more time to focus on individual work with students. AI tools can help identify knowledge gaps earlier, before they develop into larger learning problems, and recommend additional materials tailored to topics where students need the most support.
Students will learn to view neural networks not as a shortcut for copying answers but as a tool for research and exploration. They will develop skills in formulating prompts, critically evaluating AI-generated content and building their own conclusions on top of it. In this way, schools can foster a new generation of digital literacy – the ability to work with advanced technologies thoughtfully and productively.
Scaling the Initiative
The Sverdlovsk region is becoming a pilot platform for developing teaching methods that incorporate neural network technologies. If successful, the program could be expanded to other Russian regions as part of the country’s broader digital transformation strategy in education.
Educational institutions across Russia are already experimenting with AI integration, from automated grading systems to personalized recommendations for additional learning materials. The new training initiative for Sverdlovsk teachers highlights a growing trend toward deeper integration of AI tools into classroom practice while preserving the central role of educators.
Artificial intelligence will not replace teachers, but it will reshape their role. Instead of acting primarily as sources of information, educators increasingly become mentors who help students navigate digital tools, think critically and develop creative skills.
The digital transformation of education will influence not only teachers’ daily work but also how an entire generation of students perceives and interacts with future technologies.
