Every student learns differently. So, then, how can educators better meet the needs of diverse learners? How can I, as an educator, leverage my awareness of teaching, pedagogy, and how students in my classroom learn to craft engaging learning for students? One approach may be to enlist the assistance of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), which can assist you in differentiating instruction. Read on to discover how AI-powered differentiated learning can transform your classroom.
AI-Powered Differentiated Learning
One of AI’s most transformative contributions is its ability to support differentiated learning. Based on Carol Ann Tomlinson’s principles, differentiated learning ensures that teaching methods, materials, and assessments are varied. The intent is align those elements to the diverse needs of all students. AI tools can assist educators in this work.
Some ways to accomplish that include:
| Content | Process | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Generate translations of text in different languages (Example #1 NF | Example #2 F) | Generate entry/exit tickets | Generate sample product ideas and rubrics aligned to the SOLO Taxonomy |
| Adapt text to varied reading levels for Repeated Reading, Reciprocal Teaching, and key vocabulary | Perform quick assessment of student performance and create flexible groups | Create a model that scaffolds student creation of products (ACT: Analyze, Create, Test) |
| Generate digital resources and individualize assignments through learning paths via choice boards | Conduct item analysis and generate custom activities and strategies | Provide actual tools that enable previously impossible results for younger designers |
Here’s a collection of AI tools for education (mostly free). Take a moment to explore them. Select one or two blend into your practice and build a new routine.
Data-Informed Flexible Grouping
In Flexible Grouping, data informs the composition of student groups. This involves assessing, grouping, and regrouping students based on ongoing assessment data. This results in grouping students not by ability or prior achievement but rather by fresh, new data about the phase of learning they are in.
You group students to meet the following needs:
- Needs and performance. This ensures lessons are relevant and meet students where they are.
- Current understanding and skills. Your informed insight enables you to personalize learning across subjects or topics based on their knowledge.
- Include students of different abilities. With data in hand, you can more easily mix students of different abilities and backgrounds together.
- Customize activities. Since you can use data to grasp where students are in their groups, you can create more tailored engagement activities.
When you rely on flexible grouping that’s informed via assessment data, you are actually organizing students by the phase of learning they are in. These phases of learning include Surface Learning, Deep Learning, and Transfer Learning. To get a better grasp of where students are at in their learning using assessment data, identify their phase of learning with the SOLO Taxonomy.
Example in Action:
A middle school math teacher uses an AI-powered tool to provide varied exercises for students. Advanced learners are challenged with higher-order problems, while students needing additional support receive scaffolding and hints (Reinforcement and Cues Feedback) to master foundational skills. The intended result? Every student feels valued and engaged.
Recommended Tools:
- Canva for creating custom visual content to engage learners.
- Padlet for organizing and sharing differentiated resources.
Let’s take a look at streamlining assessments.
Streamlining Assessments
Providing meaningful feedback and tracking student progress can take hours. Use AI tools like Socrative and Quizlet. They can streamline formative assessments. Create engaging activities and monitor student understanding. These platforms allow teachers to create engaging activities and monitor student understanding in real time.
You can find more high-effect size instructional strategies in this collection.
Evidence-Based Strategy: Retrieval Practice
Research on retrieval practice (effect size d=0.46) shows that frequent, low-stakes quizzes improve long-term retention. AI-powered tools make it easy to implement this strategy, offering diverse question formats and tracking student progress over time.
You might find this infographic from the Exam Study Expert worth reviewing:
Here are a few AI tools that you can use to assist you in each of the suggested strategies in the infographic above:
AI Tools as Thought Partners
AI isn’t just for students; it’s a powerful ally for educators. Tools like ChatGPT can assist teachers in creating engaging lesson plans, generating differentiated assignments, or even brainstorming creative classroom activities. By automating routine tasks, AI frees up time for teachers to focus on what matters most: building relationships and fostering a supportive learning environment.
| Pre-Assessments | Instructional Strategies | Reflective Practices |
|---|---|---|
| Low-stakes assessments generated with AI. Export in markdown format, or CSV then merge into word processor of choice. | AI tools analyze pre-assessment data then recommend high-effect size instructional strategies aligned with evidence-based practices. | Encourage metacognition by generating custom journaling prompts based on student performance and behavior data. |
| Interactive Quizzes with Pear Assessment or Quizizz. Get AI to adapt questions to individual performance. | Differentiated Assignments using Classcraft or Google Classroom can auto-group students based on needs and assign leveled resources. | Provide feedback to guide deeper reflection based on AI updates. |
| Quick Polls like Poll Everywhere or Mentimeter to provide real-time insights into student misconceptions. | Matching Strategies like Reciprocal Teaching (0.74) or Jigsaw (0.92) with student readiness levels. | Automated journaling prompts and feedback loops. |
| Game-Based Tools like Kahoot! or Blooket to create assessments that also collect student readiness data. | Dynamic Pacing by relying on AI to suggest pacing strategies that adapt to student’s individual progress. | – |
Bringing AI into Your Classroom
To get started with AI, consider these steps:
Identify Your Goals:
- Are you looking to save time on feedback?
- Do you want to enhance engagement with differentiated content?
Choose the Right Tools:
- Explore platforms like Padlet, Khan Academy, or Canva to meet your specific needs.
Pilot and Reflect:
- Begin with a small-scale implementation and gather feedback from students to refine your approach.
Collaborate with Peers:
- Share your experiences and learn from others in your professional learning community.
Resources for Educators
Conclusion
Under teacher direction, AI assist in making learning more differentiated, assessments more efficient. This may make you more effective in your work. Use AI when appropriate to save time and to create a more inclusive, engaging learning space.
