What is Differentiation?

Differentiation is an important aspect of a classroom environment, where its purpose serves to convey the individual needs of students, then giving educators the opportunity to cater learning based upon each student’s unique strengths and reflect on areas that are more challenging. This element is an important aspect of the classroom as it requires teachers to get to know their students individually and observe their varying perspectives. Such allows educators to bridge information gaps in order to support students that are struggling with or exceeding the general requirements, enhancing overall literacy well-being.[1]

The topic of differentiation also plays a role in students with Special Education Needs (SEN) specifically. As an article on the subject examines, differentiation helps to identify effective teaching behaviors and techniques that are beneficial for students with SEN, and allow the educator to encompass “…well-integrated, context-responsive decisions for effective teaching, aligned with students’ individual needs and the classroom environment to foster high-quality teaching, and, ultimately, student learning.”[2] Therefore, differentiation is observably an important factor in effective classroom engagement and academic success. 

There are various methods of applying this element to classrooms, many of them conveying the positives while also examining the potential issues that could arise. Some of the concerns include extensive planning, difficulties in implementation, and the potential for students to feel behind or discouraged when compared to their peers. But first, we’ll examine the importance of differentiation and why, when applied effectively, it can foster a well-rounded and productive environment for all students.

Applications of Differentiation in Learning

Countless studies have worked to closely examine the effect of differentiation in classrooms, showing how contrasting means of application have produced different yet productive results. One study from the journal titled Educational Psychologist observes the value in evaluation processes conducted to identify student strengths, weaknesses, and ways that educators can cater to each student individually. In this specific mode of study, the evaluation process was divided into four parts: certification, selection, direction, and motivation. With these steps, educators were able to examine different factors of students’ learning, such as whether they’ve attained a certain level of accomplishment, if they can continue along their current path or need revisions, if they are receiving the necessary encouragement to increase their motivation and engagement, and how educators plan their lessons based upon these evaluations.[3] In taking these initial steps of evaluating individual students, educators can gain insight into their specific needs and how to move forward in their learning.

Another aspect of differentiation that is crucial in the success of students is the manner in which it builds a sense of confidence in the students, allowing them to take ownership of their learning and feel that they truly play a role in their successes. An example of this effectiveness can be observed through the organization called “hundrED”, where their main goal is to find and produce innovative approaches to education and make them widely accessible. Through their program, they discuss the importance of students gaining this sense of self confidence and how certain elements of differentiation such as setting goals and receiving feedback are integral to the learning process.[4] With these elements, they establish the learning path, which helps students to identify and understand their own strengths, thus increasing their overall recognition of autonomy and sense of ownership with their learning.[4] With this confidence, students gain the motivation needed in order to strive for better comprehension of their school subjects and strengthen their existing skills.

On the topic of motivation, one of the ways that differentiation alludes to this element is in taking a student’s interests and encourage learning through them. Within an article from the Illinois Reading Council Journal, the authors discuss how instilling interest within a student acts as a hook, then enabling educators to follow up with learning based upon this interest. Educators can then present this learning in any format that best suits the individual student, whether it be digital, text, images or even physical artifacts.[1] This gives educators the opportunity to learn about their students’ unique interests, while also giving students grounds to feel heard and appreciated for these interests, thus building upon the quality of their learning.

When discussing the topic of differentiation, it’s important to recognize the essential role it plays in students with Special Education Needs (SEN). Research conducted pertaining to the topic stresses the importance of specific elements that help educators to effectively teach students that identify with SEN: structuring and explaining. In these findings, the study consistently observed the effectiveness of the elements, especially considering students with high-incidence disabilities.[2] With these teaching indicators of differentiation, educators are able to better accommodate specific needs of students with SEN, providing the necessary elements of “structured presentation of information and support.”[2] In applying these aspects within the classroom, educators can help students with SEN to excel in their studies and approach learning in ways that suits their individual needs.

Differentiation and its effect on testing serves as another example as to why it benefits students. From an article discussing the facts versus fallacies of differentiation, tenets of the topic are reflected through the concept of how “…the progress of students with diverse learning needs, when appropriately challenged and sufficiently taught, can increase school and school district scores on large‐scale assessments.”[5] This concept is shown through the various studies presented, where the success of students within the classroom would ultimately improve test scores as differentiation would provide the means to succeed in their learning overall.

Potential Problems

While there are many positives to the inclusion of differentiation, it’s also important to discuss the potential issues that could arise within classrooms for both students and their educators. For example, there’s extensive and time consuming planning that goes into integrating new ways of differentiation within learning. Teachers have previously been concerned about the topic as they acknowledged how previous materials used in the classroom would no longer work, explaining the major transition that would occur in losing the content they were extensively accustomed to using.[5] This process would require a significant amount of time that educators may not be able to fully allocate due to strict deadlines.

Another problem that could arise is the overall difficulty in implementing newfound differentiation within educators. Some of the aspects of differentiation may prove to be more challenging than initially thought, such as translating a principle into behaviors and the complexity in considering such within the classroom context.[2] This can lead to overall complications in navigating these concepts within the constraints of a classroom setting, alluding to the extensive learning necessary for the educators, as well.

In implementing differentiation and the challenges faced by educators, concerns within students are produced as well, where a sense of disappointment or feeling behind could be perpetuated within students that might require different modes of learning than their peers. A balance must be established within the classroom setting in order to challenge the overachieving students without causing discouragement from other students within the same environment.[6] It’s also important to attain this balance as it also prevents students with weaker prior attainment to become less motivated and lowered expectations towards their success in learning.[6]

Conclusion

All in all, differentiation plays a significant role in students’ learning and the success within such. There are extensive positives to its inclusion, but also problems that could present themselves if the topic is not approached effectively and all-encompassing of the various factors that influence its success within each individual student and their needs. Differentiation allows for educators to gain a well-rounded knowledge of their students individually, and gives students the opportunity to thrive in their learning through means of accommodating to both their strengths and needs.

How Does PSG Fit In?

Publishing Solutions Group understands the importance of differentiation and how it can provide educators and students the necessary tools to have success in learning. Because of this factor, we strive to help our clients in providing polished and proficient content that reflects material necessary for students to excel. We value the work and dedication it takes to effectively establish concepts such as differentiation, which is why we have various services available to edit and refine the content integral to student and teacher success.

[1] https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=asn&AN=138212439&site=ehost-live&custid=shapiro

[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0742051X24002932

[3] https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=asn&AN=6370797&site=ehost-live&scope=site&custid=shapiro

[4] https://hundred.org/en/innovations/personalized-learning-paths

[5] https://research.ebsco.com/c/v7raly/viewer/html/6bnege5a2f?auth-callid=35797473-b1f0-9c46-8c1e-19075e013f0e

[6] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14681366.2016.1256908#d1e501

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