Differentiation

Despite the belief held by many in the field of education, differentiation is not a new term. Differentiation, used in education for decades, [Page 247]refers to the practice of deliberately changing or modifying with forethought the content, practice activities, projects, tests, assessments, and/or learning environment for a student or group of students, based on their academic, affective, and/or learning needs. Differentiation is a whole approach to teaching children as individuals—it is a proactive response, not a reactive one, to specific learner needs. In a differentiated classroom, all students are engaged in learning that is designed to challenge them, to maximize their academic and affective progress, and to enable them to be successful beyond the constraints of time and conformity. Differentiation is a mindset, not a ...