Differentiated Instruction
Synopsis
This video presents a philosophy of teaching that is based on the premise that students learn best when their teachers accommodate the differences in their readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles.
Key Elements of Differentiated Instruction
• The knowledge, understanding, and skills we want students to learn: Determined through formative assessment; Using reading materials at varying readability levels; Putting text materials on tape/CD; Using spelling/vocabulary lists at readiness level of students; Presenting ideas through auditory, visual, kinesthetic, & tactile means; Using reading buddies; Flexible grouping; Compacting; Meeting with small groups to reteach idea/skill, or to extend the thinking/skill; Multi-leveled questions; Modeling.
• Process (How students come to understand or make sense of the content): Tiered activities; Centers/Stations; Developing personal agendas; Manipulatives; Varying the length of time a student may take to complete a task; Cubing; Learning logs or journals; Note-taking organizers; Graphic organizers; Highlighted materials; Jigsaw; Think, Pair, Share; Learning Menus; Webquests; Labs; Role Play / Simulations.
• Product (How students demonstrate what they have come to know, understand, and are able to do after an extended period of learning): Choice boards; Podcast; Blog; Presentation; Quiz/Test; Using rubrics that match and extend students’ varied skill levels; Encouraging students to create their own product assignment; Enabling students to use contemporary media/technology as tools to demonstrate knowledge and understanding.
Overall, differentiated instruction is not grading a student harder or easier, proactive where different learners have different needs, student-centered such as shared responsibilities or student leaders, and rooted in assessment where students are assessed before, during, and after the lesson.
