Differentiated Instruction

We separate children and group them according to ability all the time.  Children who learn slowly or who need teachers to give them choices are often labeled as Learning Disabled or Emotionally Handicapped and taken to the Special Education Room for intense interventions.  On the other end of the spectrum are the children who learn quickly, they are labeled as bright or gifted and put into Honors Classes or Advanced Placement classes.  Then there are the children that learn neither quickly, nor slowly but just move through the paces.  They are put in the "regular" classes and rarely get opportunities to shine.

Everyone in education knows that children learn in different ways, at different times and need different forms of input in order to truly learn new material.  We know that, but we spend a great deal of time and money trying to fit everyone into one type of learning.  Children are not supposed to be one-size-fits-all and neither should our classrooms. So how do you differentiate?  Do you continue to separate children and stick labels on them?

Children need a blended learning model. No child should have to be separated from their peers because of learning disabilities or because of their ability to complete tasks quickly.  Educators need to move to an inclusive model with handheld devices powered by Classroom Management Systems.  With a well developed CMS one teacher can post lessons that are differentiated for all the children in their class.  Enrichment activities are available for a child who finishes first, but are also available to the child who needs more time.  Children who have trouble with an assignment can send a message to their teacher, who can respond privately to the child. Maintaining teacher and student privacy while giving the extra help needed, on an as needed basis. Teachers can monitor the time on task, create polls to see who understands the materials, adjust lessons for students and create portfolios of student work that show growth over time. 

This model of learning is the future of education. 

There are classes and schools that are doing this now.  Real schools and teachers who are using social networking and classroom management systems to enhance student learning.  In schools using this model, students are engaged and actually enjoy learning.  Say good-bye to apathy, get blended!

-AMA