DIFFERENTIATED

TEACHING
By
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
DR RAJA MOHAMED FAUZI MUSA
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNING
RECONSTRUCTIONISM
A learning-centered philosophy.
Each learner has his/her own learning style.
The role of the teacher is to manage students
learning.
The learner goes on a journey to seek
knowledge.
A fundamental component of teaching across
the curriculum is learning how to learn or study
skills (developing personal learning styles).
PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY
Learning is like building blocks, learning is
like scaffolding.
Existing knowledge is rebuilt/reconstructed
through new experiences.
Learning is a personal process of
reconstructing meaning based on new
information.
New information is most effectively gained
from experiences.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF
DIFFERENTIATED TEACHING
Individualised Teaching teaching that
caters for the learners idiosyncratic
learner differences.
A mixture of class teaching, group learning
and individual learning but lock-step
teaching (students do the same thing at
the same time and pace) is very minimal.
More
Learner difference is not a problem that needs to
be solved but a natural phenomenon

The goal of learning is to stretch ones own
potential. Students are encouraged to help each
other rather than compete.

Learning is more holistic rather than isolated, so
as to enhance the meaning.

Authentic experiences can help students build
knowledge from existing knowledge.
LEARNER DIFFERENCES
Various perspectives on learner differences.

Convergent and Divergent Thinkers
Fast Learner and Slow Learners
Various Interests or inclinations
Dependent, Independent and Collaborative Learners
Visual and Audio Learners
High achievers and Low achievers
Levels of ability
Exceptional learners Gifted and Special
Levels of Autonomy or Independence
HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE TEACHING?
Elements of Teaching that can be
differentiated:
SUPPORT
TASK
APPROACH
MODE
PACE
SOURCE
DIFFERENTIATED SUPPORT
The teacher gives more help or guidance
to certain students or groups of students.

Teacher gives out the same text for all to read.
Goes around and explain the text to some of
the students who have difficulties.

Teacher explains the procedures of an
experiment to the class. She spends more time
with the weaker group during the experiment.
DIFFERENTIATED TASK
The teacher sets different tasks to different
students or groups of students.

The teacher sets tasks of various difficulty
levels according to learner ability levels.

The teacher sets different tasks according to
learners interests.
DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH
The teacher varies the approach in the
lesson for different individuals or groups.
The teacher gives out self-completing task
sheets for five groups of students. They seek
information from the library and resource
centre. He uses direct teaching to relate the
teaching contents to two groups of students. He
spends the final ten minutes of the lesson to
discuss the lesson contents with the whole
class. (He uses the deductive teaching
approach in the former and the inductive
teaching approach in the latter).
DIFFERENTIATED MODE
The teacher uses different modes to teach
or guide different types of students.
The teacher sets a project for all students to
complete in groups. Students can discuss with
or consult the teacher through email or face-to-
face.
The teacher identifies a self-study learning
resource on CD-ROM for students to practice
mathematics. Those without computer access,
she holds extra practice sessions after school.
DIFFERENTIATED PACE
The teacher lets students learn at their
own pace.

The teacher sets a task and lets the students
hand in the completed tasks within the week.

The teacher sets a task for all students to
complete in 20 minutes and prepares
enrichment activities for those who completes
the task early.
DIFFERENTIATED SOURCES
The teacher prepares different sources of
input (text or materials) for students to
choose from.

The teacher orders a documentary on Ecology
in the Amazon on CD-ROM for the library. It
comes with a book on the same topic. The
video and text are also available on a website in
the internet. The students can choose to access
the topic in the various modes.