CIDDL Office Hour: Practical AI Applications for Educators
Authors: Yerin Seung; info@ciddl.org
As the new school year begins, many special educators are once again juggling a familiar set of tasks: modifying assignments, preparing guided notes, breaking down complex presentations, and supporting students through homework completion. These tasks are essential, but they are also time-consuming. What if artificial intelligence (AI) could take on much of this workload, giving teachers back valuable time to focus on evidence-based practices and specially designed instruction? During a recent CIDDL Office Hour, Dr. Sean Smith highlighted practical ways AI can support special educators. His message was clear: AI is not here to replace teachers, but to reduce the time spent on routine accommodations so educators can invest more energy in effective instruction.
Where Teachers Spend Their Time
From the start of the school year, Dr. Smith has observed special educators across the country focusing on creating study guides, repurposing notes, or modifying general education materials. While necessary, this work often pulls teachers away from implementing high-leverage practices such as explicit instruction, learning strategies, and other approaches backed by research. AI tools offer a promising shift: they can automate the repurposing of content, freeing educators to focus on what matters most —helping students learn.
Tools That Make a Difference
Dr. Smith spotlighted several AI tools designed with educators in mind:
Diffit: This platform allows teachers to quickly create study guides, vocabulary lists, and leveled texts from a variety of sources (presentations, documents, even YouTube transcripts). It’s especially useful for breaking down complex content into accessible formats for students. While its paid version is expanding, its educator-focused design makes it a standout time saver.
Brisk: With functions tailored for classrooms, Brisk can generate guided notes, adapt presentations, and produce classroom materials in minutes. Instead of spending hours repurposing content, teachers can rely on Brisk to handle the basics, giving them more time for individualized support.
NotebookLM: Google’s NotebookLM repurposes information into summaries, timelines, study guides, and even audio podcasts. Teachers can feed in original materials, and the tool generates accessible resources for students. This versatility not only reduces preparation time but also diversifies how information is delivered to learners.
Shifting the Focus Back to Instruction
The common thread among these tools is efficiency. By automating repetitive tasks, AI frees educators to do what no technology can replace: building relationships, delivering explicit instruction, and tailoring strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners. As Sean emphasized, the goal is not just to make teachers’ lives easier, but to create more space for high-leverage practices that truly improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Looking Ahead
AI integration is still evolving, and questions remain about access and training. But the message from this webinar is one of opportunity: when used thoughtfully, AI can help special educators reclaim their time and refocus their energy on teaching, not just task completion. That’s a future worth investing in.
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