Differentiated Instruction
Dear students,
one of the previous
posts on our blog was about 'learning styles' and now we're going to discuss a
topic that is very related to it – 'differentiated instruction'.
"Differentiated instruction and assessment, also known as differentiated learning or,
in education, simply, differentiation, is a framework or philosophy
for effective teaching that involves providing all students within their
diverse classroom community of learners a range of different avenues for understanding
new information (often in the same classroom) in terms of: acquiring content;
processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and developing teaching
materials and assessment measures so that all students within a classroom can
learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differentiated_instruction).
According
to Carol Ann Tomlinson
(2004), the author of this concept, differentiated instruction is the
process of "ensuring that what a student learns, how he or she learns it,
and how the student demonstrates what he or she has learned is a match for that
student's readiness level, interests, and preferred mode of learning."
Teachers can differentiate their instruction based on the individual learner in
four ways:
(1)
through content – what the student needs to learn or how the student will get
access to the information;
(2)
process – activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or
master the content;
(3)
product – culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and
extend what he or she has learned in a lesson;
(4)
learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels.
Differentiation
is all about adjusting teaching and learning methods to accommodate each
student’s learning needs and preferences to achieve maximum growth as a
learner. Differentiation in the classroom helps teachers to provide students
the best chance of learning, regardless of their abilities, strengths and
weaknesses. Thus, the teacher becomes the organizer of learning opportunities
in a classroom and he/she prepares lessons so that they capture the attention
of the students and fit their needs. Differentiation operates on the premise
that learning experiences are most effective when they are engaging, relevant,
and interesting to students. Traditional instruction often follows a ‘one size
fits all’ approach whereas differentiation is individualized student-centered
instruction, with a focus on appropriate instructional and assessment tools
that are flexible, challenging and engage students in the teaching and learning
process in meaningful ways. In other words, differentiated instruction provides
different avenues to acquiring content, to processing or making sense of ideas,
and to developing products so that each student can learn in the most effective
way. In order to understand how students learn and make progress, it is
important to organize pre-assessment and ongoing assessment of students’
achievements.
Differentiated
instruction is sometimes confused with another, similar concept – Universal Design
for Learning (UDL). The difference is that UDL aims to ensure all students have
full access to everything in the classroom, regardless of their needs and
abilities, and learners are supported to self-directed learning and monitoring
their own progress. On the other hand, differentiated instruction is aimed at
addressing each student’s individual level of readiness, interest, and learning
profiles.
There
are 7 basic principles of Differentiated Instruction (https://inservice.ascd.org/7-reasons-why-differentiated-instruction-works/):
(1) it is proactive; (2) it is more qualitative than quantitative; (3) it is
rooted in assessment; (4) it takes multiple approaches to content, process, and
product; (5) it is student-centered; (6) it is a blend of whole-class, group,
and individual instruction; (7) it is 'organic' and dynamic, i.e. students and
teachers learn together and, during the process, teachers monitor the match
between learner and learning and make adjustments to teaching.
Teachers can use
numerous methods of differentiation to accomodate their students, e.g.
flexible-pace learning, collaborative learning, progressive tasks, digital
resources, variable outcomes, ongoing assessment, etc. There are many practical
tips for teachers to implement differentiation in the classroom, e.g. design
lessons based on students' learning styles; provide textbooks for visual and
word learners; allow auditory learners to listen to audio books; give
kinesthetic learners the opportunity to complete an interactive assignment or
include hands-on activities and projects; use flexible grouping, i.e. group
students by shared interest, topic, or ability for assignments; create tiered
lessons; assess students' learning using formative assessment; manage the
classroom to create a safe and suportive environment, etc.
Nevertheless,
differentiated instruction can also pose some challenges to teachers, e.g. it
is hard to implement differentiated instruction in large classes with over than
20-30 students; it is difficult for only one teacher to 'differentiate' alone
with so many students; there might be a lack of resources, administrative or
parental support, etc. However, the benefits are numerous as differentiated
instruction addresses learner's deficiences in both speed and depth, and this
way of active learning promotes faster growth and greater knowledge retention
than passive learning. The main goal of differentiated instruction strategies
is to ensure that all students are engaged in the learning process by providing
activities and tasks that match each individual's needs.
Think
about these questions and join our blog discussion:
What
is differentiated instruction?
What
are the basic elements of differentiated instruction?
Why
is differentiation important in teaching?
What
is the role of the teacher in differentiated instruction?
What
are the types of differentiated learning activities that can be used in the
classroom?
What
is the difference between UDL and differentiation?
What
are the benefits of differentiated instruction?
What
are the challenges of differentiated instruction? You may also refer to the
education system in BiH.
What
does differentiation mean in education in general?
How
can you implement differentiated instruction in your future work?
Good
luck!
Regards,
Izela
Resources:
Tomlinson, Carol Ann (2004-06-01).
"Point/counterpoint". Roeper Review. 26(4): 188–189.
Differentiating
Instruction in Response to Student Readiness, Interest, and Learning Profile in
Academically Diverse Classrooms: A Review of Literature
Tomlinson, Carol Ann (1999). "Mapping a Route Toward a
Differentiated Instruction". Educational
Leadership. 57 (1): 12.
VIDEOS:
Differentiating
Instruction: It’s Not as Hard as You Think
The Path Leading to Differentiation An Interview With Carol Tomlinson
Differentiation
and The Brain: A discussion with Carol-Ann Tomlinson
Station Rotation: Differentiating Instruction to Reach All Students
Differentiating
Instruction: How to Plan Your Lessons
Differentiated
Instruction: Why, How, and Examples
Differentiated instruction is an approach that helps educators tailor their teaching so that all students, regardless of their ability, can learn the classroom material.
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiation in the classroom is an important skill for teachers to provide students with the best opportunity to learn, regardless of their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Ajla Balta, PO4
Hi, Ajla, How can you implement differentiated instruction in your future work?
IzbrišiDžemila Karamuja PO IV
Dear Ajla, what di you mean what are the challenges of differentiated instruction?
Izbriši
IzbrišiHi Ajla, will you also use differentiated teaching when you work with children?
Hi Ajla, I totally agree with you.
IzbrišiHallo everyone 🤗
OdgovoriIzbrišiI think this topic is very important for our future work .
Differentiated instruction or curriculum is when teachers maximize the learning potential of a classroom by modifying curriculum, teaching methods, learning resources and activities to address the needs of the students, as individuals or small groups gathered by learning level or readiness. The teacher adjusts the pace of the teaching according to the needs of the students as well as their interests and learning styles.In a differentiated classroom, the teacher assumes that different students have different needs and proactively plans lessons that provide different ways of "achieving" and expressing learning.With children processing information in so many different ways (modalities), with so many different strengths (intelligences), at so many different rates (skill levels) and at so many different levels of maturity (developmental ages).
Marijana Pustivuk PO 4 👋🏻
Hi Marijana,
IzbrišiYou said what I mean realy and I agree with you that this topic is important for our future.
Mirhunisa Majdanac, PO4
Differentiated teaching is one of the social forms of teaching that implies independent activity of students. Differentiated teaching takes into account the concrete
OdgovoriIzbrišisituation in the classroom, takes into account the differences between students and strives to be optimal
mathematical and other abilities of students. It establishes the unity of teaching
activities of teachers and school activities of students.
orms of differentiated teaching are: HOMOGENEOUS GROUPS, GROUP WORK, and INDIVIDUALIZATION.
In our teaching, the form of work in homogeneous groups is most often applied, while
is the most rational form of combination of group and individual work.
Džemila Karamuja PO IV
Hi Dzemila 😀 Why is differentiation important in teaching?
IzbrišiDear Džemila, how can you implement differentiated instruction in your future work?
IzbrišiHi dear Džemila 🌹
IzbrišiHow can you implement differentiated instruction in your future work?
Hi, Majoo,
IzbrišiIt is important because the teaching process needs to provide more than just information for this purpose all students in the class need to be activated.
Džemila Karamuja PO IV
HI Meliha, Hi Ena,
IzbrišiDifferentiated teaching takes into account the concrete
situation in the classroom, takes into account the differences between students and strives to be optimal
mathematical and other abilities of students. It establishes the unity of teaching
teacher and student activities.
Therefore, teaching is easier to organize. It can be used precisely because of children's interest. By respecting the differences between children.
Džemila Karamuja PO IV
Hello everyone! 🤗 I hope you're okay.
OdgovoriIzbrišiTeachers who use differentiated instruction tailor their teaching approach to match their students’ learning styles. All the students have the same learning goal. But the teaching approach varies depending on how students prefer to learn. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, a teacher uses a variety of methods to teach. This can include teaching students in small groups or in one-on-one sessions. Differentiated instruction can play out differently from one classroom to the next—and from one school to the next. Differentiated instruction involves giving students choices about how to learn and how to demonstrate their learning. Differentiated instruction is the way in which a teacher anticipates and responds to a variety of students' needs in the classroom.
To meet students' needs, teachers differentiate by modifying the content (what is being taught), the process (how it is taught) and the product (how students demonstrate their learning).
Hi Meliha!
IzbrišiHow are you? I totally agree with your comment.
Alma Nizić RN 4
Hello Meliha, very well written.
IzbrišiAmina Ćosić, PO4
Hello Meliha :)
Izbriši"To meet students' needs, teachers differentiate by modifying the content (what is being taught), the process (how it is taught) and the product (how students demonstrate their learning)." 👍👍👍
Hello Meliha, very well comment!
IzbrišiHi Meliha, what form of work do you prefer the most?
IzbrišiHello again. I hope you are all okay! :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiToday we are talking about differentiated instruction. The main thing about it I think that this approach offers a way to engage students with learning and thinking differences in the general education classroom. Differentiating instruction meets each individual student’s needs. The first part of differentiating instruction is figuring out what students know so teachers can help them learn.
How differentiated instruction works?
Differentiated instruction can play out differently from one classroom to the next—and from one school to the next. However, the key features of this approach are:
• Small work groups: The students in each group rotate in and out. This gives them a chance to participate in many different groups. A group can include a pair of students or a larger group. But in all cases, it’s an opportunity for students to learn from each other.
• Reciprocal learning: Sometimes the student becomes the teacher, sharing what he’s learned and asking questions of his peers.
• Continual assessment: Teachers regularly monitor students’ strengths and weaknesses (in both formal and informal ways) to make sure they’re progressing well in their knowledge and mastery of schoolwork.
Each student comes to school, not only with unique academic needs, but also with unique background experiences, culture, language, personality, interests, and attitudes toward learning. Effective teachers recognize that all of these factors affect how students learn in the classroom, and they adjust, or differentiate, their instruction to meet students' needs.
Bye!
Nerma Omeragić, RN4
My dear Nerma, well written , I absolutely agree with you.
IzbrišiBest regards, Valentina Šutalo
Thank you my dear Valentina.
IzbrišiSee you soon. 🤗
Nerma Omeragić, RN4
Hello Nerma, how are you?
IzbrišiYour comments are always very helpful and this is very nicely written. Thanks for all the info.
Alma Nizić RN 4
Dear Alma, thank you a lot. 😘
IzbrišiNerma Omeragić, RN4
Hi Nerma. How much the principle of individualization is applied in teaching today and what is the current situation in the field of inclusion?
Izbriši
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated instruction is the process of ensuring that what a student learns, how he or she learns it, and how the student demonstrates what he or she has learned is a match for that student's readiness level, interests, and preferred mode of learning. Basic elements of differentated instruction are content process, product, learning environment. The role of the teacher here is very big because he can manage with the situation in the process of learning. Everybody learn on their own way and also show that knowledge on the other ways. It is hard to individualize the one class, almost imposible. There are a lot of kids and everybody are different. But we must try and try be much better in that every day.
Ena Brkić, RN3
Dear Ena, I agree with you. It is very difficult to differentiate teaching in a classroom full of children.
IzbrišiSelma Jordamović, RN IV
@Ena, I totally agree with your opinion. 👋
IzbrišiNerma Omeragić, RN4
Dear Ena, what do you think are the advantages of differentiated teaching?
IzbrišiHi Ena! :)
IzbrišiHow would you adjust your classes if in your class tomorrow you have a student with a visual impairment?
At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to respond to variance among learners in the classroom. Whenever a teacher reaches out to an individual or small group to vary his or her teaching in order to create the best learning experience possible, that teacher is differentiating instruction.
OdgovoriIzbrišiTeachers can differentiate at least four classroom elements based on student readiness, interest, or learning profile:
Content – what the student needs to learn or how the student will get access to the information;
Process – activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or master the content;
Products – culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and extend what he or she has learned in a unit; and
Learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels.
Sibila Nuhanović
PO$
PO4*
IzbrišiHello dear Sibila.
IzbrišiCan you tell me how can you implement differentiated instruction in your future work?
Hi Sibila,
IzbrišiI agree with you and this what you wrote is excellent: "Learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels."
Mirhunisa Majdanac, PO4
Hi Sibila, What are the types of differentiated learning activities that can be used in the classroom?
IzbrišiDžemila Karamuja PO IV
Hi Sibila,
IzbrišiI agree with you, what you wrote is very good.
Hi everyone :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiWell, as I already said in a few previous posts, the functional part of educating and the practice is the most important. We all know that old methods of educating are very boring and not that useful for students. Every student will remember faster something he needs to learn if we show it to him. We are very blessed now, because we have the internet, and we can find many ideas for almost every lesson and every subject, just in a few minutes. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to be creative and to make learning interesting for students. I think that every teachers goal should be to have students who give their best, who are interested in learning and who want to learn constantly, but we can achieve that only if we give our best and if we make going to school interesting. I hope I’ll be one of the interesting teachers who will be proud of them even many years after they leave.
Hi Neira :)
IzbrišiWhy is differentiation important in teaching?
Hi Neira, I agree with you.
IzbrišiBest regards, Valentina Šutalo
Dear Neira, very well written. ❤
IzbrišiNerma Omeragić, RN4
Hi my dear Neira! Very interesting! I totally agree with all you said.
IzbrišiBest regards! :)
Berina Prozo, RN4
Hello :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiation means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Whether teachers differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, the use of ongoing assessment and flexible grouping makes this a successful approach to instruction. At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to respond to variance among learners in the classroom. Whenever a teacher reaches out to an individual or small group to vary his or her teaching in order to create the best learning experience possible, that teacher is differentiating instruction.
Differentiation in the classroom helps teachers to provide students the best chance of learning, regardless of their abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Thus, the teacher becomes the organizer of learning opportunities in a classroom and he/she prepares lessons so that they capture the attention of the students and fit their needs. Differentiation operates on the premise that learning experiences are most effective when they are engaging, relevant, and interesting to students.
Hi Fuada, I agree with you.
IzbrišiHi Fuada,
IzbrišiI would like you to tell me more about - why is differentiation important in teaching?
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, every student has an individual learning style. Big chances are, not all of students grasp a subject in the same way or share the same level of ability. Differentiating instruction may mean teaching the same material to all students using a variety of instructional strategies, or it may require the teacher to deliver lessons at varying levels of difficulty based on the ability of each student. Teachers who practice differentiation in the classroom may: design lessons based on student's learning styles, group students by shared interest, topic, or ability for assignments, assess student's learning using formative assessment, manage the classroom to create a safe and supportive environment, continually assess and adjust lesson content to meet student's needs.
OdgovoriIzbrišiValentina Šutalo, RN IV
Dear Valentina, I like your thinking. I hope you will practice this when you become a teacher.
IzbrišiSelma Jordamović, RN IV
My dear Selma, can't wait. Best regards :)
IzbrišiMy dear Valentina! :)
IzbrišiHow would you adapt the content of the lesson for Music Culture class if in your class you have a student with the hearing impairment? Do you have any idea?
Dear Šejla :)!
IzbrišiYou can make sure that your face is visible when speaking. You can provide repetition, which is helpful not only to students with hearing loss but to other students as well. Even small step can make a big difference in the child’s experience...
Differentiated learning is very important in teaching. We don’t all have the same mental abilities or skills. We do not all learn at the same speed, nor in the same way. I believe that every student can achieve a result, you just need to find the right way. Teachers are accustomed only to reproducing information, and do not pay attention to functional knowledge. PISA testing showed this last year.
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated teaching is, also, unavoidable in inclusive teaching.
Selma Jordamović, RN IV
Hi Selma. I totally agree with you that every student can achieve a results if theacher find the right way.
IzbrišiShort and clear!
IzbrišiHi Selma :)
IzbrišiIt's like you read my mind. Completelly agreeing with you.
Thank you, my dear friends! I'm glad that we share the same opinion.
IzbrišiSelma Jordamović, RN IV
Hi everyone
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiation means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Whether teachers differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, the use of ongoing assessment and flexible grouping makes this a successful approach to instruction.
What You'll Learn
How to vary the level of content you present
How to provide a variety of learning environments
Different ways students can show what they've learned.
At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to respond to variance among learners in the classroom. Whenever a teacher reaches out to an individual or small group to vary his or her teaching in order to create the best learning experience possible, that teacher is differentiating instruction. We are all different and we need to respect it. If someone need different way of teaching we need to everything to offer him ot her.😊
Mirhunisa Majdanac, PO4
Hi Mirhunisa ! I agree with your opinion. What do you think is the role of teachers in differentiated teaching ? Medina Kunić RN4
IzbrišiDear Mirhunisa, I agree with you. We are all different and we need to respect and value individual differences.
IzbrišiHi Mirhu, in your opinion, what is the most important benefit of differentiated instruction?
IzbrišiAmina Ćosić, PO4
Hi Mirhu.
IzbrišiVery well written. I totally agree with you.
Sibila Nuhanović, PO4
Hi@ Medina! Well I think that teachers have very important role!😊
IzbrišiHi@Amera thank you for you nice comment!
Hi @Amina! The most important benefit is that teacher can teach child more things and can have more time to spend with child if child needs.
My dear Mirhu :)
IzbrišiI completely agree with you.
Hamida Tatarević, PO IV
Hi everyone :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated teaching is one of the social forms of teaching that implies independent activity of students. Differentiated teaching take care of the specific situation in the classroom, takes into account the differences between students.
The teacher differentiates by giving tasks of different levels of difficulty, providing different levels of support, enabling the choice of topics and ways of solving tasks in accordance with the experience and interests of students.
Selma Neimarlija, PO4.
Hi Selma ! I agree with your opinion. What do you think are the advantages of differentiated teaching ? Medina Kunić RN 4
IzbrišiHi ! In the context of education, differentiation is a type of learning where teaching is tailored to the learning needs, preferences and goals of individual students. The overall academic goals for students groups are the same, but the teacher has the freedom to use all resources and approaches he deems appropriate to connect with the students or to use practices that have proven successful for similar students in the past. No matter what the teacher chooses whether it is the subject, the learning process or even the learning environment differentiation is awareness and an active response to different learning styles of students.This includes gaining flexibility in assessment, grouping and teaching to create the best possible learning experience.
OdgovoriIzbrišiMedina Kunić RN 4
Hi everyone! :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiThough it can be done in larger groups, one thing that I have learned is that differentiation works so much better in small group settings. Small group allows you more time to recognize student needs and learning styles. You can then differentiate instruction to meet individual needs.
Each student works at a different pace for different reasons. This is why differentiated instruction is important. Differentiating instruction meets each individual student’s needs. The first part of differentiating instruction is figuring out what students know so teachers can help them learn. There are a variety of ways to do that through a pre-assessment of some sort. Teachers can differentiate their classrooms by altering the content, process, product, or learning environment for students. Changing these different aspects of a classroom can help students feel more comfortable and experience more success.
At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to respond to variance among learners in the classroom. Whenever a teacher reaches out to an individual or small group to vary his or her teaching in order to create the best learning experience possible, that teacher is differentiating instruction.
OdgovoriIzbrišiTeachers can differentiate at least four classroom elements based on student readiness, interest, or learning profile:
Content – what the student needs to learn or how the student will get access to the information;
Process – activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or master the content;
Products – culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and extend what he or she has learned in a unit; and
Learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels. Process
Examples of differentiating process or activities at the elementary level include the following:
Using tiered activities through which all learners work with the same important understandings and skills, but proceed with different levels of support, challenge, or complexity;
Providing interest centers that encourage students to explore subsets of the class topic of particular interest to them;
Developing personal agendas (task lists written by the teacher and containing both in-common work for the whole class and work that addresses individual needs of learners) to be completed either during specified agenda time or as students complete other work early;
Offering manipulative or other hands-on supports for students who need them; and
Varying the length of time a student may take to complete a task in order to provide additional support for a struggling learner or to encourage an advanced learner to pursue a topic in greater depth. Products
Examples of differentiating products at the elementary level include the following:
Giving students options of how to express required learning (e.g., create a puppet show, write a letter, or develop a mural with labels);
Using rubrics that match and extend students' varied skills levels;
Allowing students to work alone or in small groups on their products; and
Encouraging students to create their own product assignments as long as the assignments contain required elements.
Learning environment
Examples of differentiating learning environment at the elementary level include:
Making sure there are places in the room to work quietly and without distraction, as well as places that invite student collaboration;
Providing materials that reflect a variety of cultures and home settings;
Setting out clear guidelines for independent work that matches individual needs;
Developing routines that allow students to get help when teachers are busy with other students and cannot help them immediately; and
Helping students understand that some learners need to move around to learn, while others do better sitting quietly (Tomlinson, 1995, 1999; Winebrenner, 1992, 1996).
Belkisa Pilipović, PO4
My dear Belikisa, well written, well done!
IzbrišiHi everyone.
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated teaching is teaching in which individual differences between students are taken into account. Differentiated teaching is the adaptation of materials, tasks to the needs of each student. I think that differentiation is important in teaching so that students acquire as much knowledge as possible.
Since we are all different, I think it suits everyone in some other way that we will learn something, gain some new knowledge. I think that teachers need to make teaching interesting, in order to motivate students to learn as much as possible. Also, when asking tasks, questions to students, one should take into account the needs and abilities of each student.
Hadžiabdić Amera, RN IV
Hello Amera, I like your point of view.
IzbrišiDifferentiation is a prerequisite for effective learning, but also for achieving common requirements, as well as optimal development and self-realization. When applying differentiated work, the teacher must be aware with the individual abilities of students, the level of their prior knowledge and must have individual development strategies, so that for each student can plan task systems with appropriate motivational level, complexity of teaching content, processes and results. The foundations of differentiation are: to have the necessary prior knowledge for the processing and application of new knowledge, to have a certain level of operational skills, motivation to learn; the existence of prerequisites for independent work of students; development in the field of cooperation, social characteristics of students, etc.
OdgovoriIzbrišiEnsar Halvadžija, RN IV
Hi Ensar.
IzbrišiI really like the way you are thinking. What do you think about possibility of introducing this way of working in our schools?
Hello everyone.
OdgovoriIzbrišiEach of us is different, we react differently to the same situations, events, etc. This is why differentiated instruction is important. As teachers, we must know the way of individualized approach to children. The individualized approach treats each child as an individual, as "a unique person with an individual pattern and time sequence of growing up, with different previous experience and individual personality, resulting in different interests and learning styles." Individualization is a process in which the educator observes and encourages the development of each child. Age, level of development, sexuality, personality and temperament, interests, abilities and needs, learning style, self-awareness and family culture, all this makes up a child's personality. Differentiated instructions in our future work can be implemented using the methods of individualized approach.
Amina Ćosić, PO4
Hi, dear Amina. I think that you're right. Every child represents a unique individual, so not every child has the same interests.
IzbrišiDženita Čolo PO4
Hello dear Amina, I agree with you. I have same opinion.
IzbrišiAida Rogo, PO4
Differentiation is a way of teaching, it’s not a program. It asks teachers to know their students well so they can provide each one with experiences and tasks that will improve learning. Differentiation means giving students multiple options for taking in information. Differentiating instruction means that you observe and understand the differences and similarities among students and use this information to plan instruction.
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated instruction is when teachers maximize the learning potential of a classroom by modifying curriculum, teaching methods, learning resources and activities to address the needs of the students, as individuals or small groups gathered by learning level or readiness. The teacher adjusts the pace of the teaching according to the needs of the students as well as their interests and learning styles. Differentiated instruction allows teachers to give students the support they need instead of lumping them together in one big group. Smaller groups make it easier to see who has mastered the lesson goals and has acquired the skills to move on. Larger class sizes make it more difficult to zero in on individual student needs. In a large class, it’s easier for a student to slip between the cracks. A quiet child who hasn’t mastered the material can easily go unnoticed until a formal assessment. While working with a large group, it’s difficult to zero in on students who need extra support or enrichment.
Hi Amila, very nice said, I agree with your opinion.
IzbrišiHello everyone!
OdgovoriIzbrišiI have researched this topic a bit, so I want to share with you what I think can help us all in our future work.
Differentiated instruction is an approach to teaching in which educators actively plan for students' differences so that all students can best learn. In a differentiated classroom, teachers divide their time, resources, and efforts to effectively teach students who have various backgrounds, readiness and skill levels, and interests.
Teachers can differentiate at least four classroom elements based on student readiness, interest, or learning profile:
• Content – what the student needs to learn or how the student will get access to the information;
• Process – activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or master the content;
• Products – culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and extend what he or she has learned in a unit; and
• Learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels.
To help create lessons that engage and resonate with a diverse classroom, below are 20 differentiated instruction strategies and examples.
1. Create Learning Stations
2. Use Task Cards
3. Interview Students
4. Target Different Senses Within Lessons
5. Share Your Own Strengths and Weaknesses
6. Use the Think-Pair-Share Strategy
7. Make Time for Journaling
8. Implement Reflection and Goal-Setting Exercises
9. Run Literature Circles
10. Offer Different Types of Free Study Time
11. Group Students with Similar Learning Styles
12. Give Different Sets of Reading Comprehension Activities
13. Assign Open-Ended Projects
14. Encourage Students to Propose Ideas for Their Projects
15. Analyze Your Differentiated Instruction Strategy on a Regular Basis
17. Use Math EdTech that Adjusts Itself to Each Student
18. Relate Math to Personal Interests and Everyday Examples
19. Play a Math-Focused Version of Tic-Tac-Toe
20. Create Learning Stations, without Mandatory Rotations
You can find more about this at the following link https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/differentiated-instruction-strategies-examples-download/
Byee :)
Hi Šejla. Thank you for sharing those 20 tips with us. Well done.
IzbrišiHello Šejla.
IzbrišiI like those tips, thank you. Those are really useful.
Dženita Čolo PO4
Hi Šejla, I hope you're doing well.
IzbrišiThank you for sharing your tips with us. They're really useful.
@Šejla
IzbrišiOhhhhhhhh, lots of text. : DD
Hi Šejla, thank you for all of this useful informations! Very well written.
IzbrišiDifferentiated instruction is an approach that helps educators tailor their teaching so that all students, regardless of their ability, can learn the classroom material.
OdgovoriIzbrišiAs each person is an individual for himself, so each of us has his own way of learning and gathering information. For this reason, it is very important that teachers first get to know their students well, their abilities, in order to find the best way to teach. be fun, not frustrating for students. Each of us loves different things, so some will learn certain content by drawing, others maybe with verses, etc. Personally, I think that the differential approach is better when teaching, but therefore more challenging and difficult to teachers, but if we love our job it will not be difficult for us to get to know our students and new ways of teaching.
Dženita Ćorić,PO4
Hi dear Dzenita, i completely agree with you.
IzbrišiAida Rogo, PO4
Differentiated instruction is an approach to teaching in which educators are actively planing for students' differences so that all students can learn best. This is an approach that helps educators tailor their teaching so that all students, regardless of their ability, can learn the classroom material.
OdgovoriIzbrišiSo it doesn’t make much sense to present information in one way and expect every student to learn effectively. Sure, many students would be able to take in the lesson, but there would be others who would have a hard time. With differentiation, teachers recognize their students as individuals with varying needs and provide them with more options for learning.
In other words, teachers use multiple strategies to make sure that all students can absorb the information being taught, share what they’ve learned, and meet long- and short-term goals.
Unfortunately, many times a similar strategy is used in the classroom.
Many teachers incorrectly assume that differentiating instruction means giving some students more work to do, and others less. Differentiating instruction implies that teachers know their students well.
Teachers need to regularly check in with students to find out what’s working and what isn’t. Also, teachers need to provide flexible learning options and give students options for showing what they’ve learned.
I think that "one size fits all" approach is not effective - everyone of us is different.
Antonela Selak, RN4
I agree with everything you said Antonela, especially with this last sentence.
IzbrišiHi Nela :)
IzbrišiI especially like that part with "more and less tasks to do". You said it great.
Hi everyone!
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiation is a way of teaching, it’s not a program or package of worksheets. It asks teachers to know their students well so they can provide each one with experiences and tasks that will improve learning. There are few key elements of differentiated instruction and one of them is content, students can acquire new information and ideas through reading independently or with a partner, reading a novel or listening to it on tape, searching for content online or communicating with experts, and much more. Another key element is process, it means how students come to understand and make sense of the content. This involves students trying to figure things out, asking questions, and making mistakes. Product is an important key element as well, it can show us how much students understand and know about different subjects after an extended period of learning. The last key element is the learning environment, students cannot put their effort into something if the learning environment doesn't meet students' emotional needs, some of them need more attention to be able to stick with the task and others don't. Differentiation is important in teaching because not all students are the same, one is different from the other so if we are not going to stick to the key elements of differentiated instruction we cannot expect the same progress and success from all our students/kids. In my future work, I can implement differentiated instruction by following the key elements that I wrote and talked about above, I can create a differentiated learning environment, prepare thoughtful lessons for children, tailor assignments based on individuals learning goals, and adjust my lesson content based on individuals needs. In my opinion, with everything stated above, I can satisfy the needs of each child and be successful in my work.
Stay happy and healthy :)
Dženita Čolo PO4
I really like the way you are thinking. Bye.
IzbrišiHello everyone!
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiation is a way of teaching, it's not a program or package of worksheets. It asks teachers to know their students well so they can provide each one with experiences and tasks that will improve learning. The basic elements of differentiation instructions are different instructions which is based on modification of four elements: content, process, product and affect/learning environment. The role of the teacher in a differentiated instruction are to be clear on key concepts, generalisation and principles that provide some meaning and structure to the topic, unit or lesson that is being planned, also assessment should be through of as a road map for our planning and thoughts. Lesson also need to be engaging and needs to be balance between students selection and teacher assigned tasks. Some types of differentiated instruction are: lessons design based on students learning styles, grouping students by shared interests topic or ability, using formative assessment ... UDL gives all students a equal opportunity to succeed, while with the DI its the opposite case.
Sandra Jazović PO4
Dear Sandra, nice thinking. I agree with you.
IzbrišiHey Sandra, I hope you are doing well. I have to tell you that I like your post very much and agree with most of it!! ✔
IzbrišiHiiii :))
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated instruction and assessment, also known as differentiated learning or, in education, simply, differentiation, is a framework or philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing all students within their diverse classroom community of learners a range of different avenues for understanding new information (often in the same classroom) in terms of: acquiring content; processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and developing teaching materials and assessment measures so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability. Students vary in culture, socioeconomic status, language, gender, motivation, ability/disability, personal interests and more, and teachers must be aware of these varieties as they plan curricula. By considering varied learning needs, teachers can develop personalized instruction so that all children in the classroom can learn effectively. Differentiated classrooms have also been described as ones that respond to student variety in readiness levels, interests and learning profiles. It is a classroom that includes all students and can be successful. To do this, a teacher sets different expectations for task completion for students based upon their individual needs.
Marija Bekić, PO4
Hello!
OdgovoriIzbrišiOur topic for today is differentiated instruction. We can describe differentiation as creating a balance between academic content and students' individual needs. Each student learns differently, but they all need to learn something. Differentiating instruction can help students achieve no matter how they learn and what they know.
I would like to single out one way of shooting in the class that I personally like the most, and that is the group form. Grouping students by similar ability levels helps both teachers and students. When students work in groups, teachers can work 1-on-1 with each group and give very direct instruction to each group based on their needs. Intermingled groups allows for more collaboration between students. Students with better understanding of the content can help their peers who need it. These types of groups can function a little more independently.
Bye!
Alma Nizić RN 4
Hi Alma.
IzbrišiI really like the way you are thinking. I like group form of working in classroom, too. What do you think about possibility of introducing this way of working in our schools?
My dear Alma, I totally agree with all you said. :)
IzbrišiBerina Prozo, RN4
Hi everyone !
OdgovoriIzbrišiThis is a very important topic...
Differentiated instruction or curriculum is when teachers maximize the learning potential of a classroom by modifying curriculum, teaching methods, learning resources and activities to address the needs of the students, as individuals or small groups gathered by learning level or readiness. Basic elements of differentated instruction are content process, product, learning environment. The role of the teacher here is very big because he can manage with the situation in the process of learning. Teachers who use differentiated instruction tailor their teaching approach to match their students’ learning styles. All the students have the same learning goal. But the teaching approach varies depending on how students prefer to learn. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, a teacher uses a variety of methods to teach. Teachers who practice differentiation in the classroom may: design lessons based on student's learning styles, group students by shared interest, topic, or ability for assignments, assess student's learning using formative assessment, manage the classroom to create a safe and supportive environment, continually assess and adjust lesson content to meet student's needs.
Differentiation in the classroom is an important skill for teachers to provide students with the best opportunity to learn, regardless of their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Hey Edita, hope you are doing well. Your post is good and i agree that the role of the teacher here is very big because he can manage with the situation in the process of learning. ✔✔
IzbrišiHello
OdgovoriIzbrišiI think that this is also very important topic for everyone.
Differentiated instruction is framework or philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing all students within they diverse classroom community of learners a range of different avenues for understanding new information (often the same classroom) in terms of: acquiring content, processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas, and developing teaching materials and assessment measures so that all students within a classroom cam learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability.
Also, it is the proces of ensuring that what a student learn, how she or he learns it, and how the student demonstrates what he or she learned is a match for that student's readiness level, interests and preferred mode of learning.
Differentation in the classroom helps teachers to provide students the best chance of learning, regardless of their abilities, strenght and weakness.
There are 7 basic principles od Differentiated Instruction:
1.it is proactive
2.it is more qualitive than quantitive
3.it is rooted in assessment
4.it takes multiple approaches to content, proces and product
5.it is student-centered
6.it is blend of whole - class, group and individual instruction
7.it is 'organic' and dynamic, i.e. students and teachers learn together.
I think that every human being is individual for himself, so learning is individual too. In our future profession, we have to know that every child has different knowledge and predispositions and it is up to the teacher to develop and expend that knowledge.
Therefore, in preschool intitutions, it is the educator who encourages children to learn through content (what children needs to learn) , process, product or learning environment.
Aida Rogo, PO4
Differentiation generally means separation. In this case, I would rather call it adaptation.
OdgovoriIzbrišiI think this is a topic that is implied in the teaching profession. We need to be aware that every child requires a certain approach when we talk about social interaction, but also about the acquisition of knowledge. The job of a teacher means to transfer knowledge and instill quality habits as well as possible, and we cannot achieve that in the same way with every child. Therefore, it is a great challenge to recognize what suits each child and adapt the tasks or instructions to him.
Not all children have the same possibilities of perception, but neither the needs nor the same learning styles, which we talked about in previous topics.
I hope that we will all learn through experience how to differentiate the material so that it is as functional as possible for a child.
OdgovoriIzbrišiIn the context of education, differentiation is a type of learning where teaching is tailored to the learning needs, preferences and goals of individual students. The overall academic goals for student groups are the same, but the teacher has the freedom to use all resources and approaches he deems appropriate to connect with the student or to use practices that have proven successful for similar students in the past.
No matter what the teacher chooses to differentiate - whether it is the subject, the learning process or even the learning environment - differentiation is awareness and an active response to different learning styles of students. This includes gaining flexibility in assessment, grouping and teaching to create the best possible learning experience.
Here’s how differentiation works: The teacher responds to the student’s unique learning needs through the learning process, educational content, or specific learning tool or product, based on student interest, learning profile, or readiness. It is about connecting points: connecting the academic goals of the curriculum with the different interests and abilities of students. This requires knowing the students in the classroom and adapting your curriculum where possible. It also requires the development of a comprehensive plan on how you will use the resources and how much time is needed to facilitate differentiated learning and to assess outcomes.
Amina Ramic, PO4
Differentiation is good way of learning in theory, but to put it in action is a little bit difficult. Teacher have to be very good at his job to be able to use this way of learning with his students. I think that this way of learning provides better development of student's skills and abilities. Teachers can differentiate their instruction based on the individual learner in four ways:
OdgovoriIzbriši1) through content – what the student needs to learn or how the student will get access to the information;
2) process – activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or master the content;
3) product – culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and extend what he or she has learned in a lesson;
4) learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels.
I think the best way is based on learning enviroment bcause it is very important how student feels in that classroom, how that affect him and his desire to learn.
Dear Lejla, how to achieve quality learning by applying differential teaching?
IzbrišiHi Lejla. I think that is the key, to use different approaches to teaching.
IzbrišiHello everyone. Differentiated teaching is reflected in the distribution and grouping of teaching content according to groups of students. Differentiated teaching is inevitable in inclusive teaching. It enables us to see the progress of students in mastering certain teaching contents. The construction of differential learning is based on the clarity of student progress and therefore we should strive for differential teaching.
OdgovoriIzbrišiLejla Hasanspahić, RN IV
Hi Lejla. How teacher can plan a differentiated lesson?
IzbrišiDifferentiated instruction allows students to show what they know in different ways. It can work well in general education classes that include students with learning and thinking differences. In any general education classroom, there are students with various learning styles. Some learn best by reading and writing. Others prefer to watch a video, listen to a recording, or dig into hands-on activities. Differentiated instruction is a way of teaching that matches a variety of learning styles.
OdgovoriIzbrišiTeachers who use differentiated instruction tailor their teaching approach to match their students’ learning styles. All the students have the same learning goal. But the teaching approach varies depending on how students prefer to learn.
Suada Stanić (V) PO4
Hey everyone! :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiated instruction is great way that all students in the classroom give their maximum, to be active during the class, to learn what was planned for that class hour, eventhough there are different students with different abilities.
We should give opportunity to all students to make their progress, to learn and to express themselves, their achievement on their own way. This can help inclusion get improved in educational sistem, so different students with different abilities can get their rights in regular schools.
Foe example if some student doesn't hear we can use lot of photos, materials, so with less words and more perceptual visualization that student can learn easier way, and also express his/her knowledge through some painting and not through speaking descriptions, as these students who have hearing problems they have some speaking problems as well.
Selma Hodo PO4
My dear Selma :)
IzbrišiI totally agree with all you said. :)
Hamida Tatarević, PO IV
We are all individuals. As individuals, we are all unique and special. Some of us might have similar point of view on some things but in the end, even siblings are unique and special. Why am I mentioning this? As unique human beings, we all have different needs and we are all interested in different things. That is the point of differentiated instructions – to ensure every individual to achieve its highest point. Albert Einstein wrote: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” That is the main problem in our school system.
OdgovoriIzbrišiIn a class, teachers might have all students with different interests, but there could also be groups of students with similar interests. That is the thing teacher could use to efficiently approach to all of the students. When some teachers think of differentiation, they imagine having to create a different lesson for every student in the room. However, it might not be the case. Just a little bit of imagination and creativity in teacher's work could do a lot to students and it could encourage them to achieve better results. For example, if the task for all of the students is to write an argument essay, teacher might leave up to students which topic to choose to write about. In that case, student who is interested in sports will write an argument essay about sports, and the other who is interested in history will write the essay about it. Students will feel more comfortable and they will be able to express themselves in the best possible way. If the teacher chose a specific theme everybody have to write, a very few students who are interested in it will find the best possible way to do the task. In both situations students will write an argument essay, but what do you think in which situation the results will be better?
Differentiated instruction is an approach that helps teachers to get maximum out of all students and make them, regardless of their different abilities and interests, learn the classroom material. It is very powerful “weapon” that could be very efficient if it is used in a right way.
Amra Bajrić, RN III
Hello Amra,
IzbrišiI like your comment, I just want to know what do you think, what is a right way to use differentiated instruction?
Thanks for answer. Dženeta, PO4
Hello everyone
OdgovoriIzbrišiI think this topic is very important and interesant. Differentiated instruction is the process of ensuring that what a student learns. Differentiating instruction may mean teaching the same material to all students using a variety of instructional strategies.Tthe learning process or even the learning environment differentiation is awareness and an active response to different learning styles. I think that teachers need to make teaching interesting, and more motivate.
Hamida Tatarević, PO IV
Hi Hamida, I agree with you. I hope that we as theachers will use Differentiated instruction in learning process with our children.
IzbrišiDženeta, PO4
Differentiated teaching is one of the social forms of teaching that implies independent activity of students. Differentiated teaching takes into account the specific situation in the classroom, takes into account the differences between students and strives to optimally express the abilities of students. It establishes the unity of the teaching activity of teachers and school activities of students. Namely, the teaching process should provide more than just information and for this purpose it is necessary to activate all students in the class. Forms of differentiated teaching are: homogeneous groups, group work and individualization. In our teaching, the form of work in homogeneous groups is most often used, while the most rational form is a combination of group and individual work.
OdgovoriIzbrišiHi again :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiIt's very interesting topic again.
Differentiation is a way of teaching; it’s not a program or package of worksheets. It asks teachers to know their students well so they can provide each one with experiences and tasks that will improve learning. I found that differentiation means giving students multiple options for taking in information. That means that that we as teachers need to observe and understand the differences and similarities among students and use this information to plan instruction. Differentiating instruction asks teachers to continually strive to know and to respond to each students’ needs to maximize learning.
Dženeta Javoraš, PO4
Differentiated instruction is based on assessment data, strategic planning and interventions to meet the needs of every student. Each time a lesson or activity is customized to teach or assist an individual who is working independenty or in a small groups, the learner benefits from the approach. Personalized strategies and activities provide the best approach for the individual to work with and learn information. Plan instruction is based on the student's knowledge base, learning styles, intelligences and interests. In a differentiated classroom, the teacher assumes that different learners have differing needs on the basis of which he plans a lesson. Many teachers today assume that differentiating instruction means giving some students more work to do, and others less.That is incorrect.The basic idea is that the primary educational objectives making sure all students master essential knowledge, concepts, and skills remain the same for every student, but teachers may use different instructional methods to help students meet those expectations.
OdgovoriIzbrišiHello dear teacher and students!
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiaded instruction is a mode of teaching that accounts for students indvidual needs and learning styles before designing a lesson plan. Instructors who incorporate differentiated instruction into their classroom may group students by shared interests, assess students learning via formative assessment and continually assess and adapt lessons to serve students best interest. Differentiated instruction refers to instructors providing their diverse class with a range of ways to understand content in the classroom. Four ways to differentited instruction include content, process, product and learning environment. Content refers to various activities that help students learn information while process refers to various learning styles such as visual or auditory methodes. Product describes the end result of a project to demonstrate comprehension where learning enciroment may include a flexible classroom with group work.
I hope see you soon!
Successfully implementing the practice of inclusion by differentiating instruction depends on both the skills and attitudes of general education teachers. New general education teachers who are entering the field are particularly vulnerable to the demands and stress of the profession, and teacher education programs must prepare preservice teachers to meet the needs of all students by teaching the skills needed to make appropriate lesson adaptations, accommodations, and modifications. This study investigates the manifestation of differentiation for special education students in work sample lesson plans written by preservice teachers working toward an elementary school credential. The research examined the nature, characteristics, and types of instructional adaptations included in the work samples prepared by a sample of preservice teachers resulting in six distinct themes and recommendations for teacher education programs.
OdgovoriIzbrišiI was researching this topic and i can say that differentiated instruction excites the brilliant student to uncover deeper layers of learning, while simultaneously structuring curriculum to support lower level students or students with learning disabilities- both identified and unidentified. ... Differentiating instruction is the key to reaching all students. Differentiating instruction means that you observe and understand the differences and similarities among students and use this information to plan instruction.
OdgovoriIzbrišiDifferentiaded instruction is a mode of teaching that accounts for students indvidual needs and learning styles before designing a lesson plan. Teachers who practice differentiation in the classroom may:
OdgovoriIzbrišiDesign lessons based on students' learning styles.Group students by shared interest, topic, or ability for assignments.Assess students' learning using formative assessment.Manage the classroom to create a safe and supportive environment.