What is Differentiation in Education vs Individualised Learning

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Every classroom has students with a range of different ability levels and needs, which can be particularly challenging for teachers to support.

What is differentiation?

Differentiation in teaching, put simply, is a teaching approach that focuses on groups of students rather than individual students. Teachers can flexibly group students for targeted instruction, activities or assignments. This small group learning is supported by research and has an effect size of 0.47 (Visible learning, n.d.). Students are grouped into smaller groups within a class. However, they are not left in the group permanently. The groups are flexible and based on the needs of the students.

For example, a teacher identifies that a group of students has not understood a concept and that this will need to be re-taught. These students are placed in a small group for re-teaching and learning this concept. It is a short-term grouping and ends when the students show evidence of understanding. Another example is a teacher who identifies students who already show evidence of understanding part of a topic. The teacher groups these students to provide opportunities for them to accelerate their learning.

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What is individualised learning?

Individualised learning focuses on the needs of individual students in the class. Teaching is specific and targets one need at a time. This teaching method can be used independently or as part of differentiated teaching. Some students who receive individualised instruction need teachers to help them understand and learn.

Other students using the same teaching method can skip topics they already know and move on to advanced information (Osewalt, 2021). Many students are on individualised education programmes (IEPs), which are shown in SEQTA through the Student Alert function. These IEPs outline the educational accommodations required to meet the student’s individual learning needs through differentiation in education.

Differentiation vs. Individualisation

Differentiated Instruction focuses on the group, allowing teachers to adjust lessons for small groups based on similar needs
Individualised Learning tailors the instruction to the student’s pace, style, and current understanding

Differentiation	Individualisation
Instruction is to a group of students	Instruction is to individual students
The teacher adjusts instruction for the group	The teacher adjusts instruction for each student
High expectations for all students	High expectations for individual students
Materials designed for group needs	Materials designed for individual needs

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Tools in SEQTA

SEQTA supports teachers in delivering differentiated instruction and individualised learning; however, it is up to the teacher to determine the right tool to use based on the needs of their students. Several tools are available to access, including:

Unit Planner: This provides an area for teachers to document how they will differentiate the written, taught and assessed curriculum to meet the needs of specific groups of students
Planner/Online Lessons: This provides an area for teachers to outline the differentiation requirements for each lesson
Individualised Learning Tool (myEdOnline): This tool enables teachers to create and deliver engaging individualised learning, track individual student progress, provide just-in-time one-on-one feedback, ask students’ questions and track their responses, and view each student’s entire learning pathway

Individualised Learning Tool: Benefits for Students

Students can learn at their own pace, anytime, anywhere and independently negotiate their learning paths
Gives students a choice in how they show their learning
Supports students in developing the skills to become independent, self-managed learners

Teachers need to use technology to help them deliver a differentiated and/or individualised learning programme. It supports them in tracking student progress, facilitating timely interventions, if necessary, and monitoring individual learning. The key is that the teachers connect the right tool to the right student.

Embracing differentiation and individualised learning is essential for creating inclusive, dynamic classrooms that cater to every student's unique needs. Start implementing these strategies today and explore SEQTA’s powerful learning tools to transform your teaching experience.

Are you interested in learning more about SEQTA? Please contact us or book a demo.

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