Day 11 of the #24DaysOfAI Appvent Calendar features a contribution from someone I respect hugely. Well worth connecting with on LinkedIn, Julie Carson, Director of Education at Woodland Academy Trust and this year’s ICT Evangelist Digital Leader award winner, has a gift for cutting through noise and focusing on what genuinely helps teachers think well. Her entry today does exactly that.
As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in everyday professional practice, one of the key challenges for educators is finding tools that genuinely support clarity of thinking without increasing workload or complexity. Many AI platforms focus on automation or content generation, but fewer help teachers and leaders structure ideas in a way that feels natural, visual and low-cognitive load. The free version of Napkin.AI offers a simple, clean and highly accessible space for capturing concepts, drafting text and developing ideas in a way that feels intuitive and distraction-free.
Napkin.AI is built around a minimalistic “napkin-style” canvas that allows users to jot down thoughts, annotate visuals or drop in images when exploring a concept. This simplicity is its strength. The free version gives you:
- A clean digital space for thinking
- The ability to add text annotations
- The option to upload diagrams, screenshots or sketches
- A built-in AI text generator (“Draft with AI”) to help turn notes into structured writing
There is no complexity, no clutter and no need for training. It feels like a digital notebook that can be enhanced with AI support when you want it, rather than something that takes over your workflow.
Educational Benefits
Napkin.AI (free version) offers several practical benefits for educators and school leaders:
Supports clarity and reflective thinking
The visual napkin space allows staff to explore ideas without formatting distractions. This is powerful for strategic planning, lesson ideas, curriculum mapping and research notes.
Works well for professional dialogue
During CPD sessions, coaching conversations or leadership discussions, users can quickly capture key points or drop in relevant diagrams to support shared understanding.
Encourages low-pressure creativity
Because the space is simple and informal, it invites experimentation. Staff can sketch out concepts, list priorities or outline challenges before refining them into more formal documents.
Enhances writing efficiency
The “Draft with AI” feature helps turn rough notes or prompts into structured paragraphs, saving time and supporting staff who want to quickly develop explanations or summaries.
Supports accessibility and differentiation
Users can upload visuals, frameworks or diagrams and annotate them in ways that support different approaches. The free version works well for staff who prefer visual over linear planning.
Practical Application
Classroom Practice
Teachers can use Napkin.AI to:
- sketch quick lesson ideas
- annotate diagrams or models for explanations
- develop retrieval questions or examples
- capture formative assessment notes during planning
Leadership and Strategy
School and Trust leaders can use it to:
- draft sections of strategy documents
- outline priorities for discussion
- capture early-stage thinking from leadership meetings
- develop CPD content or briefing notes
Generating text through “Draft with AI” can help turn these napkin-style sketches into more formal written material when needed.
Considerations and Tips
- Keep content high-level: avoid uploading anything with sensitive pupil or staff information.
- Use it as a thinking tool, not a full writing suite: the free version excels at early-stage thinking and short drafting.
- Add visuals where helpful: diagrams, sketches and screenshots enrich the canvas.
- Refine AI output manually: always check accuracy and adjust the tone for your audience.
- Create separate napkins for different projects to keep ideas organised.
Conclusion
Napkin.AI’s free version offers a simple yet effective space for educators to explore ideas, draft writing and capture thinking in a visually clear and low-cognitive-load format. It’s not a full-featured planning tool and doesn’t need to be. Its strength lies in its simplicity: an uncluttered environment where AI supports rather than dominates the creative and strategic process. For teachers and leaders seeking a lightweight, accessible way to work with ideas, it is well worth exploring as part of an AI-informed professional workflow.
