Instruction for Academically Diverse Classrooms

This course will focus on the belief that all classrooms are heterogeneous on many levels, as are the students in them. This course will assist teachers seeking to create learning environments that address the variability that is typical of academically diverse classrooms. The course aims to help teachers determine what differentiated instruction is, why it is essential for all learners, how to begin to plan for it, and how to become comfortable enough with student differences to make school comfortable for each student.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Recall what differentiated instruction is
• Recognize the rationale for differentiating instruction
• Identify strategies for managing a differentiated classroom
• List roles of a teacher in a differentiated classroom

Module 1 - Understanding Differentiated Classrooms

Module 2 - The Teacher Role and the Learning Environment

Module 3 - Lesson Planning

Module 4 - Differentiated Content, Processes, and Products

Instruction for Academically Diverse Classrooms Module 1

Understanding Differentiated Classrooms

Kids of the same age aren't alike when it comes to learning. In a classroom with little or no differentiated instruction, only student similarities seem to take center stage. In a differentiated classroom, commonalities are acknowledged and built upon, and student differences also become important elements in teaching and learning.

• What Differentiated Instruction Is—and Isn't
• The Rationale for Differentiating Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms
• The Needs of Students in a Differentiated Classroom Topic
• Addressing the Needs of Advanced Learners
• The Needs of Struggling Learners

Instruction for Academically Diverse Classrooms Module 2

The Teacher Role and the Learning Environment

Differentiated instruction in academically diverse classrooms is beneficial not only to students but teachers as well. For many teachers, though, before they can offer differentiated instruction, they must first make a paradigm shift. When teachers differentiate instruction, they begin seeing themselves as collaborators with students and organizers of learning opportunities.

• The Teacher's Role in a Differentiated Classroom
• Characteristics of an Effective Learning Community
• Inside Some Differentiated Classrooms
• Variety of Instructional Strategies

Instruction for Academically Diverse Classrooms Module 3

Lesson Planning

In a differentiated classroom, some of the traditional ways of doing things will change. Your students and their guardians may need your help to understand and feel comfortable with the new classroom. We will also look at the three dimensions of student variance guide planning for differentiation: readiness, interest, and learning profile. We will look at the basics of differentiating instruction in response to those three student traits.

• Preparing Students and Parents for a Differentiated Classroom
• Introducing Students to Differentiated Instruction
• Helping Parents Learn About Differentiated Instruction
• Planning Lessons Differentiated by Readiness

Instruction for Academically Diverse Classrooms Module 4

Differentiated Content, Processes, and Products

This module will focus on how students process ideas thinking about how to differentiate instruction is more manageable when you examine one element at a time. We will look at how content can be differentiated in response to a student's readiness level, interests, or learning profile. It can also be differentiated in response to any combination of readiness, interest, and learning profile.

• Strategies for Differentiating Content
• Differentiating Products
• Creating High-Quality Product Assignments
• Grading in a Differentiated Classroom

No prerequisites required.

All materials included in course.

Internet Connection

• Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections

*Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

PC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Windows 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2019 or higher. Also, you could use a general Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
• Adobe PDF Reader
• QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player

MAC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Mac OS version 11 or higher
• Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• The Amazon Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
• Adobe PDF Reader
• Apple QuickTime Media Player