A Practical AI Tool for Reading Support and Scaffolding
Diffit is an AI tool designed to help educators adapt reading materials and learning resources for different learner needs. It can transform existing text into summaries, guided activities, vocabulary supports and alternative reading levels.
While often associated with schools, Diffit has growing relevance for colleges and universities serving increasingly diverse student populations.
Meet Diffit
Users paste text, upload documents, or link to articles and webpages. Diffit then generates revised or supplementary materials based on the original source.
Outputs may include concise summaries, key vocabulary lists, comprehension questions, guided notes, simplified versions of text, extension activities and reading supports for different levels of readiness.
Faculty can edit outputs before using them with students.
In the Classroom
In a first-year sociology course, an instructor uses Diffit to create a guided version of a complex journal article, including a summary, key terms and comprehension questions. In a nursing program, faculty use it to generate vocabulary support for technical readings.
In an academic upgrading course, an instructor turns a difficult text into staged learning materials that help students build confidence before engaging with the full reading. Diffit can also support universal design for learning by offering multiple pathways into the same content.
Why It’s Useful
- Supports diverse learners: Diffit helps adapt reading materials for students with different levels of academic preparation.
- Makes dense readings more accessible: It can create summaries, guided notes, vocabulary lists and comprehension questions.
- Useful for transition points: It supports first-year gateway courses, bridge programs, academic upgrading and access programs.
- Helps with technical texts: Diffit can scaffold entry into discipline-specific or terminology-heavy readings.
- Supports retention and learner success: Students engage with reading-intensive courses earlier and more confidently.
What to Watch Out For
- Simplification should not become dilution: Faculty need to preserve conceptual depth and academic expectations while reducing unnecessary barriers.
- Instructor review is essential: Some disciplines rely heavily on precise terminology, nuance and context.
- Access does not mean avoiding challenge: The goal is to help students enter challenging learning, not remove the challenge altogether.
- Outputs may need adaptation: Materials should be reviewed for accuracy, tone, level and alignment with course outcomes.
Give It a Try
- Link: https://web.diffit.me/
- Cost: Free and premium plans are available, with pricing and feature access subject to change.
- Quick experiment: Choose one dense reading from an upcoming course module. Ask Diffit to generate a short summary, key vocabulary list and five comprehension questions. Review the materials, then decide what could help students prepare for the full reading without replacing it.