Various learners think and learn differently, all influenced by their personality, background, interests, and culture.
As a result, students in the same class can show different results, where some excel while others require remedial classes.
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These differences form the basis of differentiated instruction, whereby teachers offer their students different instruction methods to suit their learning needs.
How Does Differentiation Work?
Teachers incorporate differentiated learning into the four main elements of education.
These elements include:
1. Content
Content refers to the resources students need to learn and the necessary ways they can achieve this.
It is possible to differentiate content in the following ways:
- Using audiovisual tools for learning
- Highlighting sections of text
- Holding mini-lessons on specific topics
- Physical demonstrations
- Using reading partners
2. Process
This refers to the way students make sense of lessons.
Differentiating learning allows students to learn by asking questions and relating what they are learning to real-life situations.
Here are some strategies to differentiate the learning process:
- Allowing learners to work in groups
- Using tiered activities while offering varying support according to learning abilities
- Providing flexible time for struggling students to complete tasks
- Providing individual task lists
- Allowing students to choose their tasks
3. Product
These are activities that give students a chance to apply the lessons they have learned.
Differentiating products involves:
- Allowing learners to choose what to present
- Giving students a chance to choose either solo or group presentations
- Providing an opportunity to choose select questions during tests
- Allowing different timelines according to the student's abilities
4. Learning Environment
The learning environment refers to the general feeling in the classroom.
Feelings and emotions are important in the learning process.
Positive feelings keep students motivated, while negative ones may make students lose interest.
Varying emotional needs require differentiation to allow effective learning, and this includes:
- Incorporating learning materials that reflect the diversity of your students
- Allowing silent zones for students who prefer silence and activity zones for students who prefer to move around
- Setting clear guidelines to reflect individual abilities and needs
Ways Teachers Can Ensure Differentiated Instruction Is Successful
The success of differentiated instruction depends on the effort of the teacher.
It may seem complicated and demanding at first, but you will be up and running in no time with these steps.
Consult Other Teachers
When teachers meet and share experiences, they can learn better ways to improve their students' learning experience.
It is also an effective way for teachers to evaluate themselves by comparing notes.
Plan for Continuous Assessments
Continuous assessments may take time to prepare, but they are an essential pointer to weak areas.
By testing your students continually, you can discover areas that need improvement early.
Understand Your Students
Knowing more about your students is essential and will help you establish their strengths and weaknesses and any challenges that may hinder them from performing well.
Collaborating with Parents
When parents support their students' learning at home, teaching becomes much easier and rewarding for all parties involved.
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Benefits of Differentiated Instruction
Adopting differentiated instruction for lessons comes with various benefits for learners and their teachers.
At a glance, here are the key benefits:
✔ Learning focuses on the student
One of the main reasons that make differentiated instruction stand out from other modes of teaching is because the student is the focal point.
Under this approach, students are treated as individuals and given the necessary support to learn effectively.
✔ Incorporates continuous assessments
Teachers have to continually assess their students before moving to new topics to ensure that they have grasped the content.
This is an excellent way to ensure learners remain prepared for exams and allow teachers to discover areas requiring extra attention.
✔ Provides an opportunity to use various approaches
Differentiated instruction provides teachers with the freedom to use different approaches to teach.
This way, the teacher can determine the most effective strategy for their students.
As a result, the burden of teaching is lighter as teachers get to pick the friendliest method.
✔ Encourages active learning
Active learning is important as it allows learners to grasp concepts quickly.
When students take part in class activities, they rarely forget the lesson.
These activities are spread out throughout the semester to ensure learners remain active and alert.
✔ Accommodates all groups of learners
Having students from diverse backgrounds can pose challenges to teachers as these learners have different learning abilities.
Slow learners can easily fit into the class since there are enough activities and support to make their learning easier.
Tools like audiovisual notes and graphics make it easier for such learners to grasp the content better.
✔ Keeps learners engaged
Learner engagement is one of the most common problems faced by teachers.
As long as students remain interested in schoolwork, they put in extra effort to grasp content.
Since differentiated instruction addresses this problem, learners pay more attention in class.
Conclusion:
It is crucial to ensure students can access learning tailored to their abilities, needs, and learning styles.
Skilled teachers understand that each student matters, and by using differentiated learning, all students get a chance to succeed in school and excel in life.
Differentiation may not happen each day but is worth every extra effort.
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