Differentiated Learning
New realities in standardized testing, coupled with a better understanding of student needs, have underscored the importance of differentiated instruction. Given all of the progress being made in understanding the various learning styles, abilities, and preferences of students, tailoring exercises and instruction to the unique needs of each student is the next logical step in education--and, fortunately, advances in technology now make differentiated instruction possible like never before.
New software, hardware, and internet trends allow educators and stakeholders to determine the optimal learning style for a given student, and then use this information to engage the student accordingly. This is fantastic news for everyone involved in education today--but the practice of differentiated instruction is not without its difficulties. Teachers need to learn the basics of these new technologies, then apply them expertly. Parents and administrators need to acclimate themselves to the idea that a "one-size fits all" approach to education is quickly becoming irrelevant and outdated. The promise of differentiated learning is as intimidating as it is exciting. That's why, with the generous help of educational search-engine company netTrekker, we've assembled this one-stop guide to differentiated learning. We hope you can use it to familiarize yourself with the concepts, difficulties, and execution surrounding one of the most important educational trends of today.
--The Editors
News Stories and Best Practices • Hitting the target: 'Informed instruction' helps raise achievement, meet mandates Delivering individualized instruction targeted to meet each student's needs once was no more than the stuff of educators' dreams. Today, thanks to a growing number of offerings and some creative financing on the part of school districts, this model is becoming a reality for teachers and students nationwide... • California schools adopt digital history program California is undertaking an experiment that could have ramifications across the country: A new program under way in select elementary schools has history teachers scrapping traditional textbooks in favor of digital learning materials... • Mississippi proposes self-paced, online curriculum Mississippi Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds has unveiled a new $20 million proposal designed to offer seven possible career paths to high school students, as well as online courses that would help prepare them for college and the workforce... • Technology helps teach complex reading skills With the testing requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act targeting elementary and middle school students until now, and with the knowledge that a strong foundation in reading begins at an early age, it's easy to see why school leaders might focus their attention on reading instruction in the early grades at the expense of high-school reading programs... • Stanford targets gifted high schoolers At a time when sweeping education reforms such as the federal No Child Left Behind Act have focused the attention of educators on the needs of disadvantaged students, officials at Stanford University have harnessed the power of online learning to reach another often overlooked group of students: the academically gifted. Starting this fall, a first-of-its-kind online school aims to better prepare gifted and talented students for the challenges of elite universities... • Technology strikes a chord in music education From elementary schools to Boston's Berklee College of Music, a revolution is quietly taking place in music education. With the help of electronic music software, students who don't even play an instrument now can compose songs or even an entire symphony--learning more about music theory in the process than ever before possible... • Educators take serious look at video gaming | ||||
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