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What is differentiated instruction?
Carol Tomlinson provides a concise explanation of what it means to differentiate instruction.

Two misconceptions about DI - that there is a disconnect with standards and that DI is only for certain students
Carol Tomlinson explains how learning standards and differentiation are aligned with one another and that DI is not a restrictive approach designed for certain types of students.

A misconception about DI - that it is an 'add-on' activity
Carol Tomlinson addresses a common misconception about DI by clarifying that it is not an extra thing to do in the classroom.

A misconception teachers sometimes have - "I already differentiate."
Carol Tomlinson discusses a common misconception of teachers who lack a clear understanding of DI - they often believe they already differentiate.

Four common misconceptions about DI
Kristina Doubet discusses some misconceptions about DI, clarifying that whole-class instruction occurs in a differentiated classroom, that DI is not a case of high-level versus low-level students, that it is a proactive approach to meeting the varied learning needs of students, and addresses students' differing interests and learning preferences as well as readiness.

Engaging resource specialists in planning differentiated lessons
Kelly A. Hedrick explains the important role resource specialists can play in collaboratively planning differentiated lessons with classroom teachers.
Barriers that teachers may encounter when implementing DI
Catherine Brighton describes barriers that elementary and secondary teachers often encounter as they begin to differentiate instruction in their classes.
Cindy Strickland describes a way to differentiate professional development for teachers using tiered activities designed for different readiness levels.

These experts on differentiated instruction appear in our video clips.
Video Archive
Catherine Brighton - Associate Professor, UVA School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia

Marcia Imbeau - Associate Professor, Curriculum & Instruction, University of Arkansas

Kristina Doubet - Assistant Professor in Middle, Secondary, & Mathematics Education, James Madison University

Jay McTighe - Author and educational consultant

Monica Harrold - Principal, Northside Elementary School, Ann Arbor, MI

Cindy Strickland - Educational consultant and ASCD faculty member

Kelly A. Hedrick - Director of Gifted Education & Academy Programs, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA

Carol Tomlinson - William Clay Parrish Jr. Professor Emeritus, UVA School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia

Jessica Hockett - Educational consultant

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Bloom's taxonomy identifies six levels of learning, from the most basic (i.e., recalling facts) to the most complex (i.e., evaluating information). For instance, when she creates a tiered assignment, the teacher often develops three levels of activities. For the lowest level, she might develop activities that assess students' knowledge and comprehension; for the middle group, she might assess their ability to apply and analyze information; for the high group, she might require them to synthesize and evaluate the information. The tables below present the hierarchy of six levels of learning. For each level of learning, the table provides verbs teachers often use when designing product assignments or test questions.

Knowledge

identify, list, arrange, define, describe, label, match, order

Comprehension

classify, summarize, predict, locate, discuss

Application

compute, demonstrate, show, solve, write

Analysis

compare, contrast, experiment, model, separate

Synthesis

arrange, combine, formulate, revise, propose

Evaluation

argue, defend, justify, appraise

Remembering

identify, list

Understanding

categorize, summarize, compare, explain, give examples, predict

Applying

perform lab test, solve a math problem, write an essay using correct grammar and punctuation

Analyzing

differentiate, draw conclusions, organize

Evaluating

determine, judge, critique, test

Creating

generate, plan, construct, design

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Bloom's taxonomy identifies six levels of learning, from the most basic (i.e., recalling facts) to the most complex (i.e., evaluating information). For instance, when she creates a tiered assignment, the teacher often develops three levels of activities.

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Engaging techniques for effective teaching

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Engaging techniques for effective teaching For every tool you'll find: An explanation of how and when to use it A template students can use to implement the tool A place to take notes about how you use each tool We're also adding videos that will show you the strategies in action.

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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I am taking a class with Cisco Networking this summer, and we are doing the equivalent of a semester of a high school course in one week. We spend two hours listening to a lecture of the key points, and then we take a test. In order to continue in the program, we have to pass the test with an 85 percent effort. Talk about high stakes!

When I was taking the tests, I noticed something. Because we often studied the chapter the night before, you would think the tests would be easy for us, but some of the questions on the test are designed to trick you into selecting the wrong answer. So even though I'm well versed in the material, and it is fresh in my mind, I still have yet to ace one of the tests. (Grrr.)

Although I am passing them reasonably well -- some just barely -- it is frustrating to not get it perfect. The fact that others are struggling too, helps, but the one student in the class who gets 100 percent gets open congratulations and a silent "I'll catch you yet!"

Anyway, this got me thinking. If we want to test a student's knowledge, shouldn't we just straight out ask the question? Is it necessary to throw in distractors, misleading answers, and ones close to the right answer, but not quite? Is that fair?

Hold that thought. I remember taking an assessment-design class in college and saying to myself, "What teacher is going to have time to make all these test questions and design a scientific pretest and posttest for every unit?" I have since discovered the answer to this question: I didn't make time, nor do many other teachers.

Another question, then: If valid assessment is so important, how do you do this? Before I answer that, let's go back to my other thought.

Differentiate Test Questions

Distractors, misleading answers, and trick questions are important in establishing level of difficulty; we can't get rid of them! Remember, we have to differentiate our instruction, so why not our tests, too?

Another reason is that there are two types of tests: summative and formative. One of the safety nets of my Cisco class is that our instructor gives us three chances to take the test. After taking each exam, we can look at the right answers and figure out what we did wrong and then take it again.

This is the main characteristic of formative assessment -- a chance to reflect, and then try again. When I go back and figure out how I blew the question, I actually learn more. It sticks in my brain better!

Back in my college assessment-design class, I learned that there need to be some easy questions, some challenging questions, and some hard questions on each test. A sophisticated teacher will assign different point values for each. A more sophisticated teacher will make sure each question is also aligned with a state standard (but that is a conversation for another day).

Anyway, the struggling student will most likely get the easy questions correct, while the advanced student will be challenged with the hard ones. Both feel that the test has made them stretch, and both can feel success in the questions they answered correctly.

Collaborate with Colleagues

How can we find time to create these tests? The way to find the time to do this is simple (unless you teach in a small school where you are the only teacher at your grade level and are willing to give up your summer vacation time to redo all of your tests by mining the textbooks and the Internet). You work with your teacher peers and come up with the tests -- pretests and posttests -- together. You share ideas, and you design a better mousetrap -- I mean test -- as a group.

Now if you consider the sophistication mentioned above, you all will be able to gather valuable student information that helps you compare teaching performance and predict student performance on state testing.

Some other time-saving tools for designing tests are turning to question-item banks, using Scantron answer sheets, and employing online test-taking tools. The key factor is that if a test is made with the collaboration of colleagues, it will surely be a better product, more useful, and, overall, less time consuming for the teacher.

We can't expect students to spend several hours studying each night and be excited about taking tricky tests, but we can challenge them with well-designed and useful assessments so they can learn and experience successes from meeting the challenges. Please share with us how you like to challenge and excite your students with difficult exams and quizzes.

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How to Design Better Tests for Students | Edutopia

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I am taking a class with Cisco Networking this summer, and we are doing the equivalent of a semester of a high school course in one week. We spend two hours listening to a lecture of the key points, and then we take a test.

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Building Differentiated Tests

When they create written tests to use in a differentiated classroom, teachers should keep a number of factors in mind:

Using a variety of question types. In addition to using traditional question types (see table below), teachers should include nontraditional question types such as analogies, demonstrations, drawings, and real-world applications. This allows teachers to determine which students have mastered the content or skill. Different students perform better on certain types of question types than on others, so having a variety of question types maximizes the probability that each student will have the opportunity to demonstrate his or her knowledge. Teachers should also use a combination of forced-choice items (e.g., matching, multiple choice) and constructed response items (e.g., create a timeline, write a short essay).

Write in simple language and use as few words as possible.

Avoid negatives (e.g., Which of these is not an example of an insect?).

Make sure the construction of the stem or answers does not give the answer away (e.g., The stem ends with "an" and only one answer begins with a vowel).

Write the definitions on the left and list the words on the right so that students read a definition and then scan the list of words instead of vice versa.

Keep all matching items on the same page.

Include no more than eight items.

Note: This type of question is good for struggling readers because it requires minimal reading.

Provide answer blanks and adequate space for written responses.

Understand that students' handwriting is often difficult to decipher.

Write sentences so that the blanks are near the end to minimize issues with reading comprehension.

Provide adequate space for the students to label.

Understand that students' handwriting is often difficult to decipher.

Note: This type of question works well for literature, history, science, and math.

Grade only the content being tested and not the students' writing skills (e.g., grammar, punctuation); an exception is the spelling of content area vocabulary.

Allow students to convey their knowledge in the most efficient manner (e.g., bulleted items, diagrams). Requiring them to write complete sentences may impede their ability to fully demonstrate their knowledge.

Teachers may want to avoid true/ false questions because they often involve the use of negatives, which are difficult for many students (e.g., Plants do not need sunlight to produce chlorophyll). Additionally, this test format is typically a difficult one for struggling readers and for students who experience test anxiety.

Provide a "T" and "F" for true/ false questions for the student to circle. This avoids the misinterpretation of a student's illegible written T's and F's. It also prevents students with handwriting challenges from tiring during the tests when they are required to write out "true" and "false."

Preteaching test-related vocabulary. Teachers should preteach unfamiliar words or phrases included in test items such as "compare" or "contrast."

Making the format efficient for students. This allows students to demonstrate their knowledge without having to spend time and energy navigating the layout of the test.

Highlighting key words. When words such as four, most, least, and excluding are highlighted, students are less likely to forget the criteria while formulating their answers.

Making test items straightforward. The test items should assess the students' knowledge of the content or skill. Items that include negatives or require overly complicated logic interfere with students' ability to accurately demonstrate their knowledge.

Specifying the criteria for constructed response items. Items that require the students to formulate responses (e.g., essays, short answers) should specify the criteria (e.g., length of essay, number of examples).

Using authentic assessment. Test students in the same way they were taught. For example, if students have been working on the addition of two-digit numbers using only computation problems, the test should not include word problems.

Adapted in part from Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessing & Grading in the Differentiated Classroom, by R. Wormeli, 2006.

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When they create written tests to use in a differentiated classroom, teachers should keep a number of factors in mind: Using a variety of question types. In addition to using traditional question types (see table below), teachers should include nontraditional question types such as analogies, demonstrations, drawings, and real-world applications.