AI-powered platforms like Khan Academy, DreamBox, or i-Ready adjust the level of difficulty and pace based on how a student is performing.
For struggling students: The system can offer more practice or simpler explanations.
For advanced learners: It can skip over mastered content and introduce more challenging tasks.
AI can quickly analyze student work and provide instant, targeted feedback, helping students improve right away.
Example: An AI writing tool like Grammarly or Quill can highlight grammar or style issues as students write, offering suggestions based on their skill level.
AI can recommend resources—videos, readings, games—based on a student’s interests, strengths, or areas for growth.
Example: A student who struggles with fractions might be shown interactive fraction games, while a peer ready for a challenge might be given real-world math problems.
AI tools like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and real-time translation can make content more accessible for English Language Learners (ELLs) or students with special needs.
Example: Immersive Reader or Google Translate can help students better understand written text by reading it aloud or translating it into their home language.
AI can sift through student performance data to identify trends, pinpoint misconceptions, and suggest differentiated small groups or strategies.
Example: A teacher dashboard might show which students need help with a specific concept and suggest resources or grouping strategies.
AI chatbots (like ChatGPT) can act as on-demand tutors, answering student questions in real time and adapting explanations to the student’s age or level of understanding.
AI tools help differentiate instruction by:
Adjusting the pace and level of content
Giving immediate, personalized feedback
Providing accessible and inclusive materials
Empowering teachers with actionable data
Offering supplemental tutoring or scaffolding
Hands-on Activity 1 (30 minutes): Using Chat GPT, teachers will create prompts and share examples of:
Modify a reading passage to a different reading level- https://youtu.be/0LvdnVa1-yE
Modify a reading passage in a different language https://www.aiforeducation.io/prompts/ell-instructions-translator ; Google Translate https://translate.google.com/
Text-to-speech conversion, for ELL or dyslexic students
Adding automatic subtitles in another language to a YouTube video
Write an IEP for a fictional student(Note: do not put personal information into an LLM-use pseudonyms)
How to write an effective IEP https://www.nwea.org/blog/2025/how-to-write-an-effective-iep/
Hands-on Activity 2: Other AI tools for Special Education(optional)
Using Chat GPT, write a 504 accomodation plan for a student with a disability
Using Chat GPT, write an IEP for a student with special needs
Use VoiceIT(https://www.voiceitt.com/ ) to better understand the speech of students with cerebral palsy
Use Handtalk app( https://www.handtalk.me/en/app/ ) for American Sign Language translation for deaf students
Small Group Discussion (10 minutes): Facilitated discussion on the pros, cons, and potential challenges of implementing AI-powered personalization in their classrooms.
Adaptive Learning Platforms for K12: Free or low cost
Khan Academy
Web Address: https://www.khanacademy.org/
Target Audience: K–12 and beyond, covering a wide range of subjects from basic math to AP-level courses
Description: Khan Academy provides free video lessons, practice exercises, and personalized dashboards in subjects such as math, science, ELA, and more. Its adaptive practice system helps students fill skill gaps at their own pace. Teachers can assign content, track progress, and receive targeted insights for differentiation.
Pricing Structure: Completely free for students, teachers, and parents. Khan Academy operates on donations and grants.
KhanMigo
Web Address: https://www.khanmigo.ai/
Target Audience: K–12 students and beyond, particularly those already using Khan Academy’s content
Description: KhanMigo is Khan Academy’s experimental AI-powered learning companion, designed to provide interactive hints, explanations, and conversation-based support. It offers personalized guidance in subjects like math and reading, helping students work through challenges step by step. Educators and parents can monitor student engagement to ensure safe and effective usage.
Pricing Structure: Offered through a pilot program that requires a monthly donation to support Khan Academy’s mission. Availability and pricing may evolve as the product moves through development phases.
The Art of Problem Solving (AoPS)
Web Address: https://artofproblemsolving.com/
Target Audience: Upper elementary to high school students, especially those interested in deeper math problem-solving and competition math
Description: AoPS offers challenging math curricula, online courses, and learning tools (including Alcumus) to develop advanced problem-solving skills. The platform focuses on creative and rigorous approaches to math, often used by students preparing for math competitions. Teachers and parents appreciate the community forums, interactive lessons, and a robust set of practice problems.
Pricing Structure: Certain resources (e.g., Alcumus) are free, while online courses, textbooks, and AoPS Academy classes have varying fees. Course costs are listed on the AoPS website, and in-person AoPS Academy programs require separate tuition.
Also Includes:
Alcumus(https://artofproblemsolving.com/alcumus )- Free
Beast Academy https://beastacademy.com/
Free Demo https://beastacademy.com/demo/school
Beast Academy Online is an interactive learning platform for advanced math beasts ages 6–13
Beast Academy is the math curriculum we wish we had as kids — one meant to spark "Aha!" moments and ignite the joy of problem solving for the next generation of intellectual leaders.
Starts at $100 per year
Grammarly
Target Audience: Upper elementary, middle, and high school students (as well as adult learners), focusing on writing and grammar support
Description: Grammarly uses AI to provide real-time spelling, grammar, and style suggestions, helping students refine their writing. Its adaptive feedback addresses individual writing tendencies, offering vocabulary enhancements and clarity revisions. Educators often encourage its use to support better writing, though it’s not subject-specific in the way other platforms are.
Pricing Structure: Offers a free basic version and premium subscription plans for individuals, schools, or organizations. Prices vary by plan length and number of users.
Review Questions: AI for Differentiated Instruction
A. AI instantly replaces the need for teachers in the classroom
B. AI tracks each student’s progress and tailors content to their individual needs
C. AI ensures that every student gets the same lesson format, regardless of skill level
D. AI guarantees that students will learn faster than humanly possible
A. Rely solely on AI to plan and deliver all instruction
B. Use AI data insights to inform and enhance their own instructional strategies
C. Use only one generic AI application for every subject
D. Avoid monitoring AI outputs to save time
A. Ensuring every student becomes fully autonomous learners overnight
B. Risk of perpetuating biases if the AI’s training data is not diverse or well-managed
C. Eliminating the teacher’s role in providing feedback to students
D. Making standardized testing completely obsolete
A. Use the AI’s suggestions without contextualizing them in the classroom environment
B. Disregard the AI data if it conflicts with personal intuition
C. Combine AI analytics with ongoing formative assessments and teacher expertise
D. Keep AI data confidential from the rest of the teaching team
A. By removing all student choice in activities and letting AI decide
B. By giving students opportunities to set goals, reflect on their learning, and choose among AI-recommended paths
C. By requiring students to do only self-paced AI modules, without teacher intervention
D. By restricting students to the default AI settings so they have uniform experiences
A. An AI that gives all students the same text to read, irrespective of their levels
B. An AI that adjusts reading passages and vocabulary based on each student’s demonstrated reading comprehension
C. An AI that deletes all reading materials and replaces them with pictures
D. An AI that only offers advanced-level texts
A. Ignore this pattern and trust the AI
B. Assume the student will improve eventually
C. Manually adjust or override the AI’s settings and provide varied practice
D. Turn off AI usage altogether and switch to textbook-only instruction
A. Teachers already know everything about AI
B. Professional development is only useful for administrators
C. It helps educators understand data dashboards, interpret AI suggestions, and address ethical concerns
D. It allows schools to cut costs by reducing staff
A. Provide equal-quality devices and internet access, and train staff on avoiding algorithmic bias
B. Adopt a single AI model without evaluating its design
C. Require students to pay for premium AI features
D. Offer AI tools only to honors or advanced class
A. All students receive identical assignments
B. Students show increased engagement and improved performance at their own pace
C. The teacher no longer grades student work
D. Student performance data never changes
Teaching Tip:
Emphasize the human-AI partnership in personalized learning. AI can offer real-time data and targeted recommendations, but teachers maintain the crucial roles of facilitator, mentor, and decision-maker—ensuring content is meaningful, equitable, and supportive of each student’s broader learning goals.