21st Century Learners' Need for Instructional Differentiation

"Differentiation allows teachers to focus on essential skills in each content area, be responsive to individual differences, incorporate assessment into instruction, and provide students with multiple avenues to learning" (Hobgood & Ormsby, 2011). There are a huge number of benefits of using differentiated instruction in the classroom. The most important aspect is that differentiated instructional strategies allow the teacher to reach the largest number of students on their level. Through the use of differentiated instruction all students are being provided with a quality education that is tailored to their needs. Additionally, progress monitoring is more beneficial. Rather than one assessment providing a certain aspect of data points, differentiated instruction opens the door to a variety of assessments and data. It has been proven over many years that the use of differentiated instruction is effective, but it also teaches the student to be more assertive with their own learning. Below is a video of a young girl who also firmly believes in differentiating instruction and meeting the students on their level, rather than providing a cookie cutter education when every student isn't fitting that mold. 

Although it has been proven over many years that differentiated instruction is highly beneficial, there is still a large portion of today's teachers that do not take advantage of its benefits. Why are teachers not providing this for their students? Is it not their job to ensure that each student is learning to the best of their ability? The answers to these questions are not exactly simple to answer. Let us look at a typical middle school teacher, they teach 4 classes a day with about 20 students in each class. That means that one teacher is responsible for the education of 80 students. Can you imagine writing 80 different lesson plans that accommodates the individualized needs of each student? That is virtually impossible for any one person to take on. This is where technology allows us to virtually revolutionize personalized instruction in today's classrooms. If used correctly, technology helps the teacher be in a different place at the same time working with each student. While one student may be fully understanding a concept another student may be struggling. With the use of technology the student that is excelling can continue on with the lesson. The student that is struggling can then have one on one attention from the teacher to receive the help they need in understanding the content. Additionally, technology is providing a much wider range of resources for teachers to use within their classroom. It is no longer just a book, that could be outdated, and a chalk board. Today's technology can provide high quality photography, instant information, and a wide range of simulations that provide students with real hands on experience. 

Teaching Community has published an excellent list of resources based on the type of learners in the classroom, Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction.  The article not only provides a list of resources for each type of learner, but they provide resources for all content areas. This is just one site out of an innumerable list of resources that are available to today's teachers, because of technology. 

 Hobgood, B., & Ormsby, L. (2011). 7 Inclusion in the 21st-century classroom: Differentiating with technology. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/every-learner/6776c 

Tenkely, K. (2014). Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction. Retrieved from http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiate-instruction?page=1#comment_formhttp://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiate-instruction?page=1#comment_form