How teachers can use AI to plan for inclusive classrooms

Summary: In today’s diverse classrooms, planning lessons that meet every student’s needs can be tough. AI tools can help you give students a more inclusive and personal learning experience. 

AI tools can help you adjust lessons to fit each student’s needs by simplifying content,  creating scaffolded activities, or making learning materials in different formats. AI tools can also create personalized tests and learning paths. Plus, AI can support executive function skills by breaking big tasks into steps, making schedules, and helping students stay organized.

But to use AI’s full power effectively, you have to focus on students’ learning goals, not just the technology. Remember, your judgment as a teacher comes first. Be careful with student privacy, and double-check to make sure the information from AI is accurate. If you use AI wisely and carefully, it can save time and help every student feel supported and included.

Classrooms today are more diverse than ever. Students have different strengths, challenges, cultural backgrounds, and language abilities. Planning lessons that meet each learner’s needs, including students who learn and think differently, can be challenging for teachers. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) can help.

AI can save you time while making lessons more inclusive. You can use AI tools to help personalize learning for each student — from simplifying reading passages, to creating accessible resources, to adjusting to a student’s learning pace. 

AI tools in education range from chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to teaching tools like BrainFreeze or Brisk Teaching. Here are some ways AI can help you build a more inclusive classroom.

AI can be a powerful tool for tailoring instruction to students’ individual needs. This is also known as differentiated instruction. AI tools can analyze information and provide custom content and learning activities. They can do this all at a larger scale than a single person. This can help teachers create individualized support for each student.¹ 

For example, AI tools can modify the content of a lesson to make it more accessible. They can simplify complex information by providing summaries and key ideas. Or they can create word lists to support a reading passage. They can also adjust the reading level of an assignment. Varied reading levels let students with reading or language challenges access the content. 

AI tools can also differentiate the process of learning by creating scaffolded activities like graphic organizers, sentence starters, and checklists. Try asking a tool like ChatGPT to make the specific resource you need. By using AI to create the support, you’ll help students learn — without hours of extra effort on your part.

Providing resources in different formats makes learning easier for everyone. This is a key principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). With AI, you can quickly create different types of content. And you can do it without spending extra time searching or making resources yourself.²

To help students understand complex information, you can ask an AI tool to create visual aids like diagrams and charts to support the text. 

For students who prefer to learn by listening, AI can turn the text into audio. It can even create short video or podcast summaries of a lesson or article. For example, you can upload your instructional materials into Google’s NotebookLM. It then makes an audio summary that sounds like two people are having a conversation about the content.

By using AI to create these different types of resources, you can help students engage with and better understand the content. 

AI is a great tool for making learning a more personal experience. It can change lessons to fit each student’s specific needs and interests by creating individual learning paths and adaptive assessments.¹ 

Start by using AI to assess a student’s performance. You can try educator-specific tools like MagicSchoolAI or SchoolAI. Ask the tool to create a learning path that allows the student to learn at their own pace. The path can focus on topics where the student needs extra help. It can also give them more advanced work in areas where they’re doing well. This helps make sure that learning is always at the right difficulty level. It also helps to keep students motivated.

Teachers can also use AI-powered tests that give immediate feedback. These tests can change the difficulty of the questions based on how a student answers them. Plus, the AI tool can use the test results to make a learning plan or create new materials for the student. 

All students — especially students with ADHD and learning differences — benefit from building executive function skills.³ As a teacher, you can directly teach these skills. You can also provide accommodations to support students who have trouble with executive function. AI can help with both. 

AI tools can act as smart calendars and task managers, which can help students with organization and time management. Model and teach students how to use the tools. Then provide support until they can use them on their own. 

AI can also help with task breakdown. This is useful for students who have trouble starting a big project. For example, you can use AI to create visual schedules or checklists to help students keep track of their progress. But you can also teach students how to use AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to do this on their own. By using these tools together, you can help students develop the skills they need to manage their own learning.

AI is not a teacher or a lesson replacement. When using AI in the classroom, it’s important to be smart about it. Here are some best practices to consider.

1. Keep your students at the center. 

Start with what you want your students to learn, not with the AI tool itself. The AI tool should help you reach your teaching goals, not be the main point of the lesson. 

2. Think about privacy.

Since using AI often means sharing personal information, be sure to protect student data. A good tip is to never put any personal information about yourself or your students into an AI tool. Also, find out if your school or district has an AI policy. These rules can help you know which AI tools are OK to use.

3. Use your best judgment. 

AI is a time-saver. It’s not a replacement for your good judgment as a teacher. AI tools can automate some tasks and provide information. But your ability to understand a student’s individual needs and offer support is irreplaceable. 

4. Watch for biases and incorrect information.

Watch out for the risk of bias in what the AI creates.⁴ It might give answers that support some people, ideas, or opinions more than others. You might not mean for this to happen, but it can appear in the work you create for your students. 

Be critical of what AI gives you to make sure it’s fair and accurate. AI is best used for brainstorming, editing, and summarizing, since it can sometimes “hallucinate” or make up facts.

5. Start small. 

Getting started with AI can be easy. Just pick a small task you already do, like creating a study guide or a graphic organizer for your class. Then, use an AI tool to assist with that one task. This way, you can get familiar with how the tool works without feeling overwhelmed. Once you’re comfortable, you can start using it for other tasks.

With the right approach, AI can be a powerful tool to help you create a classroom where every learner feels seen, supported, and challenged.

Is using AI “cheating” as a teacher?

No. When you use AI thoughtfully, you’re still making all the instructional decisions. You’re simply getting back time and energy to support students more effectively. This allows you to focus on what matters most: connecting with students, checking for understanding, and adapting your instruction. 

What if my school can’t afford paid AI tools?

There are many free AI tools teachers can start with. Chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini offer no-cost versions you can use to create materials and supports. You can also look for district-approved tools that might already be available. Starting with free options helps you build skills and confidence before investing in anything new.

How can I talk with families about using AI at school?

Share how you use AI to save time and support learning, not to replace teaching. Explain how you keep students safe and what the expectations are. Clear communication with families builds trust and supports students in using AI responsibly.

Thumbnail image credit: SolStock via Getty Images.