Differentiating Instruction by learning profile is the mode of DI that most teachers are probably the most familiar with. DI by learning profile applies learning theories, like Gardner and Sternberg, to the classroom by emphasizing the importance of different activites for different students to acheive the same learning goal. By allowing students to choose an activity or come up with their own ideas on how to represent the information they have learned students will have increase motivation and most students will have had to think critically through the information. One very practical tip to DI based on learning profile is on page 67 and states "students complete one of two homework choices they feel will help them most." Students all learn in different ways, by merely spending a few more minutes planning teachers can come up with alternate assignments that students can choose from which caters to different learning profiles. However, it is important to remember that now matter how well developed DI by learning profile is some students may still not be ready to learn that information.
What are some successful ways you have used DI by Learning Profile in your classroom?
What are some ways you can apply what you have learned from this section to activities in your class?
I have tried to do the options on projects before where students could choose from making a speech, building a scale model of something,or making a movie which I thought would allow different students to be creative in their own way.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of allowing students to tailor their environment to their learning needs. This gives them a lot of input. Many times I make them sit in desk like I always did when in fact maybe if they lay on the floor or sit against wal they may be more productive learners.
Be a student of your students - great concept, though easier said than done. It is very useful to ask parents what works - this has helped at times and other times even parents don't know what makes their child click. Finding this out, I have made it a personal goal of mine to always know what works/doesn't work for my child. This year I spoke with a father about his child - nothing improved. Then I spoke with the mother and magically, work started to be turned in and on time. Now I can use that "positive reinforcement" and the student is thriving. Who knew!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of student interest, readiness and learning profile (71). My This also goes back to the high school teacher who used the pretest to assess what they students knew or didn't know yet.
Issac- Good idea about having students make themsevles comfortable in the room. We forget growing up in the box to think out of the box in education. Although, I do wonder what the state department would say if they walked in and kids were lying on the floor and out standing in the back. :) But when doing group work or other activites your right, students may be more productive if they have the freedom to move about. When I say move about, not excessive movement, but unchained to a specific chair or table.
ReplyDeleteApril- You are right to emphasize the importance of knowing what makes your children and your students click. The challenge is how can we learn what makes our students click when we only see a student for 50 minutes a day? What do you do?