Differentiation Techniques
- Independent study: Students who are working on an independent study usually develop some sort of learning contract with the teacher. The independent study content should include the learning outcomes, scoring criteria, timelines, progress benchmarks, and projects or assignments that a student is working on.
Example: One student’s independent study in geography is to construct a three-dimensional map that depicts the topography of specific areas.
- Curriculum compacting: Usually a condensed curriculum (i.e., compacted) is based on a learner’s entry level being at or above what other students in the class are learning. Conversely, curriculum compacting may be used for a student whose entry level is below what other students in the class are learning (e.g., a parallel curriculum). For example, some students may be working on accelerated or enrichment material for the curriculum.
Example: A student who already knows geometric basics can complete unit pretests and posttests, and then move into more complex geometric areas.
- Interest centers or interest groups: Students may work together on a project based on a topic they are interested in, even though the students’ entry skill levels and/or learning outcomes are not the same.
Example: Consider that a student with mild disabilities is very interested in engines, and he groups with other students in a math class to figure out how the aerodynamics of an engine influence how fast a vehicle can travel. Also consider that the same student may be working in English class on a research paper that focuses on the same topic.
- Tiered assignments: Tiered assignments are identical to what is described in this module as adaptations or parallel choices. Tiered assignments provide students with individualized levels of the course content, such that a variety of learning and difficulty levels are available within a single classroom setting.
Example: One group of students is learning to solve word problems involving mixed fractions with unlike denominators; another group is learning to solve word problems with mixed fractions and like denominators; a third group is working on identifying fractional parts of objects.
- Flexible grouping: Students may be grouped for same content/same difficulty level, as in homogeneous groups of students who are all learning how to divide mixed fractions. However, when students within that group show they are able to move on to the next level, the teacher adjusts the group membership and does not keep it fixed for an extended period of time. Also see Interest groups.
Example: Students in one small group are learning how to write persuasive paragraphs. When one student has demonstrated proficiency with this outcome, she does not need to wait for the other group members to demonstrate proficiency. She can move to the next group for appropriate writing challenges, the teacher can use curriculum compacting or individual contracts, etc.
- Learning centers:Areas of the classroom that are set up for different activities and different types of activities can be learning centers.
Example: One area of the classroom may be set up for Internet research on the computer, and another area may have study carrels or offices for students to work independently. Also see Interest centers.
- Adjusting questions:Teachers may be asking students questions based on what the students’ learning outcomes are.
Example: During mediated scaffolding (described earlier in this module as a curriculum design element), a teacher may be dialoguing with one student about how to develop a main idea sentence or topic sentence for a paragraph, whereas for another student a teacher may be asking questions related to developing a theme throughout a paper.
- Mentorships or apprenticeships:A student with mild disabilities may be particularly interested in mechanics, and it may be possible to arrange a work-study or community service activity in which that student could be learning additional skills in his/her interest area.
- Learning contracts: see Independent study (above).
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