Differentiation has become a model embraced by teachers and students alike all over the world. As educators, we realize that every child does not grow at the same pace or learn linearly. We echo, “No child left behind!” as we keenly prepare our lessons which include differentiation that will urge our learners to participate, appreciate and take forward the topic explored in the classroom.

Differentiation is almost tangible in a classroom that supports inquiry. Urging learners to have a voice and choice facilitates differentiation in the classroom as students follow their learning styles, play to their strengths, and draw deeply from their experiences. As facilitators, we need to guide the process keeping the following in mind-

Differentiation has a unique set of challenges in each classroom which may warrant the facilitator’s attention at various stages of the inquiry process. A balanced approach that focuses on providing optimum stimulus at each junction is essential.

Content

When pursuing an inquiry question, the content presented to the students should be varied and accommodate unique learning styles. In other words, students should have access to various resources that will permit them to dig deeper into the essence of the concept through a path that fits their interests. The skills used to investigate may also be diverse. One child may choose to watch videos and presentations to augment their knowledge; another may elect to listen to audio clips or read articles.

When my students were exploring the unit on Earth, learners gained insight from different forms of content. They were engrossed in virtual tours that took them inside the layers of the Earth, listened to guest speaker sessions by climate action warriors who spoke about how the planet is changing, along with presentations and videos about soil and the evolving nature of landforms.

Down into the depths of the Earth!

Process-

Once the learners get a grasp of the content, they require time and strategies to reflect. Grouping strategies can play a pivotal role in moving the inquiry process forward as learners interact with each other and learn to appreciate the value of opinions other than their own. Learners must chip away at information to get to the core of issues and find viable answers in groups or individually. Each group/student should choose visible thinking routines, graphic organizers, or techniques to create a flow of information. 

While studying the Earth virtually, children amalgamated information by conducting experiments on soil, and playing a game of Bingo after comprehending a unit-related text!

Product-

I find this portion of differentiation highly gratifying as the student’s creativity finally comes to fruition. The results can be tremendous if they are inspired to exert their voice and choice. If students trust the facilitator enough to make mistakes and take constructive feedback, the final products churned out by students shock me and leave me wondering about their hidden talents.

 For our unit on the interconnectedness of systems in our community, the students were encouraged to pick a medium of their choice to reflect on the unit’s success while using the visible thinking routine ‘Roses, buds and thorns.’ I was amazed to see submissions in the form of Flipgrid videos, songs made through Adobe Spark, Canva posters, and Voki’s, to name a few. We celebrated the magic of being different in the class as the children viewed each other’s projects and understood that every voice is essential.

Song-Unit end reflection

Learning Environment-

I have discovered that while online, this has been the most challenging aspect of differentiation as our spaces are no longer shared. Throughout this year, I have realized that differentiating in an online environment means creating an atmosphere of safety and security virtually. It also means making an extra effort to make reticent learners relaxed and draw their curiosity towards the concept. An environment needs to be alluring for learners to feel involved in their lessons with adequate resources at their disposal. Adding an element of fun and play into daily learning engagements also makes students enjoy time spent learning.

A game of math jeopardy

Creating a birdfeeder while recapping angles and measurement

Differentiation has always been a vital element of teaching and learning. Learners find out how to shine by being mindful of their strengths while working on their weaknesses. This is a glimpse into the world of adulthood, where we get jobs based on what we are good at and strive to excel by working hard. Differentiation urges learners to find their niche, which empowers them to gain confidence and grow into lifelong learners.

About the author- 
Sanam Edwards is a teacher in Gurgaon (India). She enjoys building the student’s voice and choice within the classroom environment while infusing her quirky sense of humour into daily activities. She also enjoys blogging about classroom strategies and tech tools in her website www.reviewmirror.in

Twitter handle- @ReviewMirrorEdu