In today's diverse classrooms, creating truly inclusive educational materials can be challenging. Artificial intelligence offers powerful tools to help modify and adapt curriculum resources to meet the unique needs of all learners. This guide will walk you through practical ways to leverage AI for inclusive education.
Why Use AI for Making Curriculum Modifications?
AI tools can help you:
- Save significant time on adaptations and differentiation
- Create multiple versions of materials for different learning needs
- Ensure consistent quality across modifications
- Address specific accessibility requirements efficiently
Step-by-Step Guide to Using AI for Curriculum Modifications
1. Identify the Learning Barriers in Your Materials
Before using AI, assess your current materials:
- Which elements might create barriers for certain students?
- What modifications would make the content more accessible?
- Which students need what specific adaptations?
2. Choose the Right AI Tool for Your Task
Different AI tools excel at different modification tasks. Here are my favorites:
- Claude.ai: Sophisticated, detailed, and creative responses
- Chatgpt: Simplifies text, analyzes data, offers alternatives to Claude
3. Frame Effective Prompts
The key to successful AI use is crafting clear prompts that specify:
- The original content to modify
- The specific accommodation needed
- The target learning level or need
- Any subject-specific requirements
For example:
- "Simplify this science text about photosynthesis for 4th graders with reading difficulties while maintaining all key concepts."
- "Create a scaffolded version of this math problem about fractions for students who struggle with multi-step problems."
- "Create a lesson on the topic of plant cells for an 8th grade class. The class includes a student with cognitive disabilities."
4. Review and Refine the Output
Always:
- Check that key learning objectives remain intact
- Verify accuracy of content
- Ensure the modifications actually address the intended barriers
- Make manual adjustments where needed
Example: Modifying a Lesson on Plant Cells
Step 1: Identify Barriers
- Dense text with advanced vocabulary
- Abstract concepts
- Single response format
Step 2: Choose AI Tool
Step 3: Create a Specific Prompt
"Write a lesson plan on the topic of plant cells for an 8th grade class which includes a student with cognitive disabilities."
Step 4: Review Lesson:
Plant Cell Exploration: 8th Grade Science
Duration: 60 minutes Subject: Life Science
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify at least 5 main parts of a plant cell
- Explain 2-3 key functions of these parts
- Compare plant cells to animal cells (at least 2 differences)
- Create a model of a plant cell
Materials
- Large visual diagram of plant cell (poster or digital projection)
- Handouts with simplified plant cell diagrams (regular and modified versions)
- Colored pencils/markers
- Modeling clay or playdough (multiple colors)
- Small ziplock bags
- Small objects to represent cell parts:
- Green jello cups (cytoplasm)
- Lime candy (chloroplast)
- Small boxes (cell wall)
- Plastic bags (cell membrane)
- Marbles (nucleus)
- Raisins (mitochondria)
- String (endoplasmic reticulum)
- Small beads (ribosomes)
- Small containers (vacuole)
- Vocabulary cards with pictures and simple definitions
- Plant cell puzzle pieces (large format)
Differentiation Strategies
For student with cognitive disabilities:
- Pre-teach vocabulary with concrete objects
- Provide modified handout with fewer cell parts to focus on
- Assign peer buddy for partner work
- Use visual schedule for lesson steps
- Offer choice between hands-on model or drawing
- Allow verbal responses instead of written when needed
- Provide extra time for activities
Lesson Flow
Introduction (10 minutes)
- Hook: Show students a piece of plant leaf and ask, "What do you think this looks like under a microscope? What might we see?"
- Connect: "Today we're going to explore what makes up plant cells - the tiny building blocks of all plants."
- Preview: Review visual schedule of lesson activities together.
Vocabulary Pre-teaching (5 minutes)
- Introduce key terms with vocabulary cards (showing word, picture, and simple definition):
- Cell wall: "Strong outer layer that gives plant cells their shape"
- Cell membrane: "Thin covering that controls what enters and exits the cell"
- Chloroplast: "Green structures that capture sunlight for food"
- Nucleus: "Control center of the cell"
- Vacuole: "Storage sac for water and nutrients"
- Have students repeat terms and match cards to objects that represent each part.
Direct Instruction (15 minutes)
- Use large visual diagram to point out main parts of a plant cell.
- For each part, provide:
- Name (with clear pronunciation)
- Simple function
- Real-world comparison (e.g., "Nucleus is like the brain of the cell")
- Demonstrate differences between plant and animal cells (focus on cell wall and chloroplasts).
- Provide handouts for students to label along.
Guided Practice (15 minutes)
- Cell Part Matching: In pairs/small groups, students match physical objects to the cell parts they represent.
- Movement Activity: Students become "human cell parts" - each student gets a name tag of a cell part and must move to the correct location in a large "cell" outline on the classroom floor.
Independent Practice (15 minutes)
Student Choice:
- Option A: Create a plant cell model using clay/playdough in a ziplock bag
- Option B: Color and label plant cell diagram
- Option C: Complete plant cell puzzle with labels
Conclusion (5 minutes)
- Exit Ticket: Students identify 3 plant cell parts and 1 function (can be verbal, written, or by pointing to visual)
- Preview connection to tomorrow's lesson on photosynthesis
Assessment
- Participation in activities
- Completion of chosen model/diagram
- Exit ticket responses
- Observation of student discussions
Extension Activities
- Compare plant cells to actual plant samples under microscope
- Research specialized plant cells (root, leaf, etc.)
- Create digital animation of how materials move through plant cells
Follow-up/Homework
- Plant cell vocabulary matching (modified versions available)
- Write a creative story: "A Day in the Life of a Plant Cell"
- Find examples of plant cells in foods at home (optional)
Step 4: Review Output
- Ensure student with cognitive disabilities can access content
- Verify that the lesson meets the learning outcomes
- Add any missing cultural context
- Start Small: Begin with modifying single lessons before tackling entire units.
- Save Your Prompts: Create a personal library of effective prompts for common modification needs.
- Use Specific Learning Frameworks: Reference UDL (Universal Design for Learning) principles in your prompts for better results.
- Create Modification Templates: Develop standard formats for commonly needed adaptations (e.g., "Create a visual glossary for these terms").
- Collaborate with Students: Involve students in the process—ask what modifications would help them most.
- Maintain Learning Rigor: Focus on removing barriers, not reducing academic expectations.
- Share Across Departments: Build a shared repository of successfully modified materials.
- Document Effectiveness: Keep notes on which AI-assisted modifications worked best for which students.
Final Thoughts
AI tools offer powerful ways to make education more accessible, but they work best as a complement to your professional expertise. The most effective approach combines AI efficiency with your knowledge of your students' unique needs. By thoughtfully implementing these technologies, you can create a learning environment where all students have equitable access to curriculum materials.
What other curriculum modification challenges are you facing that AI might help with? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
Looking for more ways to modify curriculum? Check out Nicole's book, Inclusion in Action: Practical Strategies to Modify Curriculum.
Want to schedule a training, consultation, or presentation? Contact Nicole at www.nicoleeredics.com.
