Three relevant aspects of differentiation

It is relevant to adapt your courses on three important aspects. Research shows that these aspects do have positive impact on learners’ motivation, learning and output.i

Readiness of students:

Is the student ready for the assignments you want to give him? Are they too easy or difficult? It can be useful to provide assignments in different levels. Differentiation at the service of everyone’s readiness can lead to divergent differentiation. It is important to know which is the basic level that all students have to reach.

Learning profile:

What does the student need to learn effectively? Learning needs can vary a lot. Taking into account the learning needs of your students can allow convergent differentiation: students take another path, but they will reach the same level at the end.

Here you will find some options for taking into consideration the different needs of students:
· Providing a space and time for work in absolute silence;
· Giving extra time, a dictionary with writing software for students with dyslexia, a calculator for students with counting problems;
· Provide more structure or extra instruction time.

Interests:

Students are extra motivated when they can choose. Offering options and choices in your classroom do not necessarily mean that at any moment, a student has to be able to choose what he or she does.