Differentiating Instruction for Digital Learners | Digital & Mobile Technology - The Tech Edvocate (press release)

"For generations, teachers have taught to the average, or perhaps slightly below average, student" inform Matthew Lynch, Author at The Edvocate.

Photo: The Tech Edvocate

This seemed to be the best approach, given that to do anything else would mean leaving the majority of the class behind. Of course, no student is perfectly average, and most students were receiving instruction at a rate too fast or too slow for their unique needs. Differentiated instruction offers a better model: it involves providing instructional materials that are aimed at the specific needs of each student. If that sounds like an impossible goal given the realities of large classes and limited time, you may want to rethink because there are some edtech tools that make it possible to differentiate even the largest class.

For example, teachers can use hyperdocs to create virtual “playlists” of instructional materials. There are two ways to use hyperdocs to differentiate learning: teachers can either create unique playlists for each student, or one playlist can offer options for students based on their performance. So a hyperdoc could begin with a formative assessment. Then, depending on which problems students got right, which they got wrong, and what kinds of errors they are making, the hyperdoc can direct students to different learning activities that are targeted for their individual needs.

Another excellent resource is Newsela. It provides articles on current events as well as on other topics of interest.
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Source: The Tech Edvocate (press release) (blog)