Differentiation Signal

What it is

Differentiation Signal helps teachers turn lesson context, task demands, and de-identified learner needs into a clearer prompt before using an external AI tool.

The workbench is designed for planning ahead. It is not a student record system, not a live classroom response tool, and not a validated intervention. Teachers stay responsible for reviewing every prompt and every external AI output.

How teachers use it

Start with the lesson goal, current task, required evidence of learning, and the learner-task mismatch you are planning for.

The workbench helps shape that information into a Signal Brief: a compact, editable planning summary that states what should stay constant, what can change, and what kind of support the teacher wants.

Teachers then copy a generated prompt into their chosen external AI tool. After reviewing the AI output, they can paste it back into the workbench to create a revision prompt.

Privacy and de-identification

Use de-identified classroom context only. Do not enter student names, student IDs, exact class lists, diagnoses, medical details, sensitive family information, or other identifying details.

Describe classroom-relevant needs instead: access barriers, misconceptions, literacy demands, confidence issues, prior knowledge, practical constraints, strengths, and motivators.

Differentiation Signal has no accounts, backend, database, uploads, analytics, API keys, or direct AI model calls. External AI tools are outside the workbench boundary, so teachers must follow school, system, and jurisdiction policy before pasting prompts elsewhere.

What makes a strong Signal Brief

A strong Signal Brief usually includes:

• the year level, subject, and topic;
• the learning goal and evidence of learning;
• the current task, material, or assessment;
• the specific learner-task mismatch;
• relevant prior knowledge or misconceptions;
• literacy, language, practical, or access constraints;
• learner strengths or motivators;
• the output type the teacher needs.

The goal is not to label students. The goal is to give the external AI tool enough task-specific signal to produce more useful planning support.

Example prompt direction

A Differentiation Signal prompt asks the external AI tool to preserve the learning goal, state what stays constant, state what changes, avoid lowering expectations by default, and provide practical teacher-ready steps.

If the Signal Brief is too weak, the prompt asks the AI tool to request clarification rather than producing generic strategies.

Learn more

Use the privacy note before entering classroom context. Read how it works for the workflow. See examples for safe de-identified inputs. Check the FAQ for common questions.