The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years has been very controversial, with many educators arguing that it does nothing but erode the quality of education.
But as with everything, every tool can both be helpful and destructive; it always depends on how you use them.
The same goes with AI. Because every student comes from a unique background, teaching techniques can’t be a one-size-fits-all model.
This is why it can be challenging for teachers to create their lessons in a way that caters to every student’s needs, which is where AI can help.
So, in this article, we’re going to talk about how teachers can use AI to adapt to multiple learning styles.
Let’s begin by looking at traditional teaching methods and why this doesn’t always work.
Traditional teaching methods
Regardless if you’re a student or a teacher, you’re probably familiar with how traditional teaching methods tend to favor the delivery of knowledge through textual material.
But while it’s important for learners to develop reading skills, there are also other effective ways to deliver knowledge in the classroom.
Moreover, the attention span of students are rapidly dwindling, which is why it’s important to experiment with new, unconventional modes of delivery that could fix this issue and help students raise their attention span and, consequently, their ability to learn.
Thankfully, for learners and educators alike, advances in AI are beginning to change the classroom.
Now, there are various tools that can easily adapt lessons to different learners; teachers just have to be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to be able to use them effectively.
Understanding Learning Styles
The concept of learning styles—visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic (often summarized as VARK)—has been used as a basis for educators to deliver knowledge in multiple ways in the classroom.
Though some researchers debate the scientific rigor of these learning styles, this model nonetheless helps educators engage students more deeply by presenting content in varied formats.
For example, a visual learner may thrive when information is presented through diagrams, charts, and videos, but a kinesthetic learner benefits from hands-on activities, simulations, and roleplay.
Using this knowledge, teachers come up with different modes of delivery to fit the learning style of each student. Even so, it can still be challenging to personalize them to every learner.
This is where AI offers potential—by helping teachers customize each lesson to fit every student’s needs.
How AI Can Support Multiple Learning Styles
AI can be helpful when it comes to automating grading or generating test questions, but it can do so much more than this when you think outside the box.
Other than automation, AI can also help teachers analyze student behavior, identify their preferences, and tailor resources to meet their needs.
Below are several ways AI tools can help teachers adapt to diverse learners.
1. AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Platforms
Platforms like DreamBox, Knewton, and Squirrel AI already use algorithms to adjust difficulty levels based on student performance.
But beyond pacing, they can also adapt to how information is delivered.
For example, for visual learners, they could give an infographic instead of a paragraph; for auditory learners, they could provide a narrated explanation with examples; and for kinesthetic learners, they could be put in interactive simulations.
These systems relieve teachers of the burden of manually preparing separate lesson plans for different learners, which can also free up time for one-on-one support for students who need it.
2. Personalized Content Generation
AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini can transform one piece of content into multiple formats in seconds.
For example, if a teacher creates a lesson on climate change, AI can quickly generate:
- A visual slideshow with graphics of rising temperatures.
- An audio version narrating the causes of phenomena such as melting glaciers.
- A hands-on activity suggestion, such as a classroom experiment modeling greenhouse gases.
This flexibility allows teachers to come up with different ways to present the same concept, enabling them to make sure that every student connects with the lesson effectively.
3. AI Video for Visual and Auditory Learners
AI video generation can get a bad reputation for generating slop and plagiarizing content, but when used right, it can actually help teachers significantly.
With different AI Video Models, teachers can instantly transform text into engaging video lessons.
Here are some practical classroom uses of AI video:
- Science demonstrations
A teacher can generate a video showing the phases of mitosis with moving visuals instead of flat textbook diagrams.
- History reenactments
Students can watch an AI avatar “become” a historical figure and narrate events from a first-person perspective.
- Language practice
AI video avatars can speak in multiple accents or languages, helping auditory learners improve comprehension.
- Video Lessons
Teachers can create video lessons students can watch at home, freeing class time for activities that engage kinesthetic learners.
By incorporating AI video, teachers ensure lessons aren’t just delivered through reading or lecture, but also in dynamic ways that cater to different learning preferences.
4. Real-Time Feedback and Learning Analytics
Aside from creating resources, AI can also help teachers monitor how students respond to their lessons.
Platforms equipped with natural language processing and behavioral analytics can track engagement, helping teachers evaluate performance through questions such as:
- Did a student finish a lesson faster through a video or a written discussion?
- Did they perform better after an interactive quiz than after a lecture?
- Are they asking more follow-up questions depending on the lesson’s mode of delivery?
These insights help teachers refine their approach, which can even help them come up with more personalized approaches for different learners.
Over time, AI can assist teachers in creating a personalized learner profile that evolves as the student grows.
5. Supporting Students with Special Needs
AI also shows promise in accommodating students with disabilities.
For example, speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools help students with dyslexia or hearing impairments.
Captioning and sign-language avatars can also make AI video accessible to deaf students.
And lastly, Haptic feedback systems or AR/VR simulations engage students who benefit from tactile learning.
Through these techniques, AI helps teachers ensure inclusion. They can provide learning materials that go beyond traditional methods, which sets up every student to succeed.
Opportunities for Teachers
There’s no question that teachers are overworked.
Facing the challenge of coming up with various modes of content delivery, classroom management, grading, and administrative tasks is no easy feat, but AI can relieve some of that pressure.
With the help of AI, teachers can serve larger classes without sacrificing personalization.
Lessons can also be translated, captioned, or adapted automatically. AI also helps repurpose one lesson into multiple learning-style formats quickly.
With AI, differentiation becomes more feasible.
Challenges and Limitations
Of course, using AI to adapt to learning styles is not a silver bullet—it comes with hurdles, too.
- Overreliance on Learning Styles Theory
Using AI to categorize learners into different learning styles can lead to teachers pigeonholing students.
Some educational psychologists argue that rigidly categorizing students into “types” oversimplifies learning.
Teachers must remember that students often benefit from multimodal teaching rather than a single style and use AI accordingly.
- Equity and Access
AI tools require devices and internet access—resources that not all schools or students have. Overdependence on AI could widen this digital divide.
- Teacher Training and Workload
Learning a new tool is rarely effortless.
Many teachers already juggle heavy workloads, and the thought of mastering AI tools can feel daunting.
To overcome this roadblock, professional development and institutional support are important.
AI might help teachers, but the burden of improving education should not rest on the shoulders of teachers alone.
- Data Privacy
Personalized AI platforms rely on collecting student data. Schools must ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR and FERPA to protect student information.
- Risk of Misinformation
Just as the internet has been flooded with low-quality AI content, education risks being diluted by generic or inaccurate AI resources.
This is where AI literacy is important, as it still tends to hallucinate information and deliver fake knowledge.
Teachers must use AI as a tool, not a crutch.
- Human Connection
AI can enhance instruction, but nothing beats the empathy, encouragement, and human presence that only a teacher can provide.
It could surely help improve education and the way we teach and handle learners, but it can never replace the power of a teacher to touch a student’s life.
Practical Strategies for Teachers
So, how can teachers harness AI responsibly and effectively to adapt to learning styles? Let’s discuss this below.
- Start Small
Use AI to generate alternative formats of one lesson, like turning a lecture into a short video or infographic.
Diving headfirst into more advanced techniques can be overwhelming for teachers, especially those trained to only use traditional methods.
- Blend Modalities
Instead of assigning “styles” to students, choose a multimodal style of delivery to cater to every student’s needs.
- Collaborate with Students
When it comes to this new mode of learning, it’s important to allow learners to choose the format they prefer.
AI tools can quickly create different versions of the same lesson, but it won’t be effective if you don’t engage them.
- Carefully Evaluate AI Outputs
As we’ve discussed, AI can still proliferate misinformation, which is why teachers should review and adapt AI-generated content for accuracy and alignment with learning goals.
- Professional Development
To reiterate a previous point, our teachers can’t do this alone. Schools should invest in workshops that help them use and integrate AI tools in the classroom with confidence.
The Future of AI and Learning Styles
We are only at the beginning of seeing how AI can reshape teaching. In the future, classrooms may feature:
- AI tutors that deliver content in each student’s preferred modality.
- Immersive VR/AR experiences powered by AI for kinesthetic learners.
- AI video lessons that automatically adjust pace and visuals based on real-time feedback from students’ facial expressions or eye-tracking.
- Emotion-sensitive AI that detects frustration or excitement and adapts delivery accordingly.
- Collaborative AI that helps students co-create projects, giving them ownership of their learning process.
Of course, the vision is not to replace teachers but to assist them by equipping them with the tools they need to teach every student more effectively.
Conclusion
So, can teachers use AI to adapt to multiple learning styles?
The answer is yes—with caution and creativity.
AI tools make it easier than ever to present lessons in diverse formats, accommodating visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic learners.
By using different adaptive platforms, real-time feedback, and inclusive design, teachers can create classrooms where no student feels left behind.
Still, AI is not a silver bullet. It must be guided by thoughtful pedagogy, ethical safeguards, and teacher oversight.
AI can help teachers expand their toolkit, but the teacher’s role as mentor and guide remains irreplaceable.
About the author
With over 10 years of writing experience, Joyce Isidro believes in the power of storytelling. They’re a creative-at-heart who is looking every day to satisfy their childish wonder through art and stories. You can find them on LinkedIn.
