Intel Teach Program: Module 6

This module has helped me think about self-directed learners and the role of differentiation in the following ways...

Lesson differentiation is one of the most challenging things a teacher can do when planning a unit, but it also reaps the most benefits in the end. One of the first things any educator learns is that all students learn differently. Doing something about that to make sure you are catering to different types of learners and learners with various barriers, be it special needs or the English language, takes a great deal of time and commitment to learning and understanding your students and what types of environments they thrive in. Additionally, if students are given the choice to learn in the way they learn best, they will become self-directed, responsible learners because they will feel that the lessons apply to them and will work harder to achieve their goals.

An interest inventory is one of the best ways to be able to understand students' needs and goals for the course. Through an interest inventory and then through subsequent observations of the students, it is easy to place the students into groups and discover which multiple intelligence suits them best. Lessons should be varied, providing learning opportunities for all types of learners, be it visual, kinesthetic, or audial. Equal opportunities should also be taken into consideration for students who have special needs or may be learning the English language. These students should never be seen as inferior and given less work, it should simply be modified by the teacher with additional helps - sometimes from willing students in the classroom - so that they too can gain the most out of their lesson.

For my Sui Sin Far unit plan, I intend to provide a number of different outlets for learners. There will be silent reading, books-on-tape style reading, and group reading. Students will be able to express themselves through writing, through speaking, and through creative presentations. I would be sure to diversify the groups so learners with special needs with have students who can help them succeed throughout the unit. Project-based learning seems like one of the best ways to involve all of your students in a whole-group setting. I had never thought of it that way!

There are so many ways to involve each student in the classroom. The project approach is a good way to get all of these learners interacting and teaching each other through reflection and peer criticism. It is an approach I will certainly use frequently when I do actually have my own classroom.