Differentiated Instruction

Tricia and Helen Lazzaro's website of resources and information 2Differentiate

A Few Quotes to Think About
"No two children are alike. An enriched environment for one is not necessarily enriched for another. "Marian Diamonds:  Professor of Neuroanatomy at Berkeley

"If you always do what you did, you'll always get what you got." Marian Diamonds:  Professor of Neuroanatomy at Berkeley

“No two children learn in the identical way.  In the classroom we should teach children to think for themselves …  One of the most important concepts for a 5 year old to know is that he or she can teach because you have to understand something to teach it." Marian Diamonds:  Professor of Neuroanatomy at Berkeley

"Three principles from brain research: emotional safety, appropriate challenges, and self constructed meaning suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach to classroom instruction teaching is ineffective for most students and harmful to some." - Teach Me Teach My Brian

– A Call for Differentiated Classrooms, Carol Ann Tomlinson
 “Teachers in Differentiated Classrooms are students of their students” – Author Unknown

About Differentiated Instruction    
- Grace Smith, Stephanie Throne Authors of Differentiated Instruction With Technology.

• “Teachers can differentiate four elements of instruction: content, process, product, and learning environment.”
  
  • Content: What is taught
  • Process: How it’s taught
  • Product: What is produced and can be evaluated
  • Learning Environment: Where and Who
    (Individual, Group, Student/Partner, Teacher/Student; Teacher/Class)
• “Instruction can be differentiated based on student traits, such as readiness, learning profile, interest, and affect.”
  (See traits immediately below.)

Student Differences that are Accommodated by Differentiated Instruction
Consider the traits below in creating, modifying and varying lesson plans

Technology Supports Differentiated Instruction

The concept of differentiated instruction has been addressed for at least the past thirty-five years, but the great technology that is available today was not there to support it.

• Multimedia – i.e. taping a lecture vs. taking notes, watching a video, typing as opposed to writing
• Software packages and customized programs
• Web 2.0 tools – i.e. calendars, assignment trackers, mind mapping, surveys …
• Hardware – i.e. laptops, netbooks, tablet pc’s, digital cameras, docucameras, cell phones, digital projectors …

More on Differentiated Instruction

Enhance Learning With Technology – Differentiating Instruction - P Theroux, Teacher,  Alberta, Canada - ptheoux@shaw.ca

EverythingDI – blog http://everythingdi.blogspot.com

RAFT – The RAFT Strategy, Role, Audience, Format, Topic

Tools for Differentiated Instruction, SurfNetKids.com Barbara Feldman

Presentations - on Differentiated Instruction Supported by Technology

Leveraging Technology to Differentiate Instruction by Lauren Fee, Instructional Technology Services of Central Ohio

Implementing Differentiated Instruction Presentation by Abby Guinn Curriculum and Teacher Education from Stanford University.and Jennifer Carolan Jennifer Carolan May 2007

Leveraging Technology to Differentiate Instruction by Lauren C. Panton – Manager of Instructional Technology Chatham University Pittsburg, PA

Transforming Teaching and Learning: Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction and Intervention by DeShaunda Gooden Warner

Technology Supports for Differentiated Instruction – Steve Spengler, Coordinator of Educational Technology Colonial Intermediate Unit 20

An Exploration of Differentiated Instruction, Ellen Brandt