Addressing the needs of diverse learners in the age of AI

What would you see if you walked into a Sharjah classroom today?

A beautiful mix of students with different home languages, cultural backgrounds and learning needs sitting together and ready to learn. The diversity of our classrooms in the UAE is what makes teaching very special. It is also what makes it a bit complex.

Many are correct to say: There is a no-size-fits-all approach that would work in such an environment. A solution is needed! AI is not only the buzz word nowadays but also the solution that many educators resort to for the purpose of differentiating and making learning relevant to the needs of students. But can these tools truly understand the diverse realities of our classrooms? Do they help all learners equally, or risk leaving some behind?

In the age of AI, inclusion should never be compromised. Every child regardless of their ability and background should be taught in ways that best accommodate their needs. In this article, I invite you to reflect on the three points below hoping that these would guide the way you think about and use AI in your teaching.

The Promise and the Paradox of AI in Education

AI offers so many opportunities for differentiation of instruction and customization of learning. It can help teachers adjust readings levels, for instance, and provide timely feedback. This can be very beneficial for multilingual students, second language learners and students with specific learning needs. We all agree!

But the paradox is clear: AI reflects the data it is trained on. Many global AI systems are created using Western datasets and dominant languages. This means that they can miss cultural nuances, local norms and traditions and the unique needs of diverse students in the context of the UAE. If not used properly, AI tools can generate output that is not culturally responsive and that does not reflect the lived experiences of our students. Adaptive apps might also miss the emotional and social cues that only teachers can understand. AI can support learning but cannot understand the learner. Let’s always keep this in mind.

Human-Centered Classrooms in a Tech-Driven World

As AI tools become more widespread, the teacher’s role will also shift from being the only provider of knowledge to being a learning designer and mentor. The best teachers in the AI age will be the ones who are able to combine human insight with digital intelligence. I often use the example of the driver and the GPS to explain the relationship between the teacher and AI. A Teacher is the driver behind the steering wheel. AI is a navigation tool to help guide them on how to create an effective learning experience. The navigation tool is useless if the driver does not know how to drive. Similarly, your expertise as a teacher always comes first. AI is a tool to help you reach your destination faster, but quality design comes from you. AI can, for instance, suggest a differentiation activity but only you, as an educator, can decide what the parameters are and what the context is. You know your students best. AI learns from you!

Inclusion in the Age of AI

The UAE’s education vision places inclusion at the centre. Under its national vision, the goal is clear: build a future-ready generation that is knowledgeable, compassionate, and globally minded. AI can align with this vision when used ethically and intentionally. But that also requires that we rethink what inclusion in the age of AI looks like. A multilingual student using AI translation tools to understand a science concept is not “cheating”; they are accessing equity. A student with dyslexia using an AI text reader is not gaining an advantage; they are being given a fair chance to learn. Inclusion at its core is not about treating everyone the same. It is about giving each learner what they need to succeed. This applies in any context and with or without AI.

To wrap up, we need to understand that AI is here to stay. It is important to remember that inclusive practice is not about the many digital tools we use. It is about our ability to meet the needs of every learner regardless of their language, ability, or background. At the end of the day, inclusion is the foundation of quality education.