Differentiated Instruction
Reflective Essay
Mohamed Abdelmagid
Walden University
Judith Byers, Instructor
6731 Assessment Student Learning
Dec 16, 2012
Reflective Essay
The corner stone of a real, constructive teaching improvement lies in the enduring search for authentic knowledge by experts who guide us, as teachers, efficiently to the most updated and effective approaches for making students achieve at their best potentials in order to become good individuals in society. Foremost among them are Jay McTighe, co-author of Understanding by Design and Carol Ann Tomlinson, nationally renowned expert on Differentiated Instruction. Both professors are innovative enough to present invaluable theories with many effective strategies that ensure a quality teaching process for teachers and a high standard knowledge acquisition and skill improvement for learners.
For understanding more about Jay McTighe 's Understanding by Design and Carol Tomlinson 's Differentiated Instruction, I managed to interview both professors about their instructional and curricular approaches, Firstly, I started talking with Dr. Tomlinson as follows:
Me: Professor Tomlinson, you are known as the guru of differentiation with more than 700 presentations in various schools and 17 books on the topics of differentiated instruction and curriculum. With appreciating the impact of DI on each student in the classroom, I would like to ask: What is the strongest argument for differentiation?
Tomlinson: Well, the strongest argument for differentiation to me is looking at the kids sitting in the classroom. It is rare to go into a classroom where kids are identical in all cultural, linguistic, and social background. Realizing how teachers suffer from varied student responses to teaching practices that signals a need for instruction that addresses individual variance; as well as needs common content requirements. We are required to have deal appropriately with so many students who bring to school with them needs
Mohamed Abdelmagid
Walden University
Judith Byers, Instructor
6731 Assessment Student Learning
Dec 16, 2012
Reflective Essay
The corner stone of a real, constructive teaching improvement lies in the enduring search for authentic knowledge by experts who guide us, as teachers, efficiently to the most updated and effective approaches for making students achieve at their best potentials in order to become good individuals in society. Foremost among them are Jay McTighe, co-author of Understanding by Design and Carol Ann Tomlinson, nationally renowned expert on Differentiated Instruction. Both professors are innovative enough to present invaluable theories with many effective strategies that ensure a quality teaching process for teachers and a high standard knowledge acquisition and skill improvement for learners.
For understanding more about Jay McTighe 's Understanding by Design and Carol Tomlinson 's Differentiated Instruction, I managed to interview both professors about their instructional and curricular approaches, Firstly, I started talking with Dr. Tomlinson as follows:
Me: Professor Tomlinson, you are known as the guru of differentiation with more than 700 presentations in various schools and 17 books on the topics of differentiated instruction and curriculum. With appreciating the impact of DI on each student in the classroom, I would like to ask: What is the strongest argument for differentiation?
Tomlinson: Well, the strongest argument for differentiation to me is looking at the kids sitting in the classroom. It is rare to go into a classroom where kids are identical in all cultural, linguistic, and social background. Realizing how teachers suffer from varied student responses to teaching practices that signals a need for instruction that addresses individual variance; as well as needs common content requirements. We are required to have deal appropriately with so many students who bring to school with them needs
References: Hall, T. (2002). Differentiated instruction. Effective classroom practices report. National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum, CAST, U.S McTighe, J., & Wiggins, G. (2004). Understanding by design: Professional development workbook. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Tomlinson, C. A. (2001). How to differentiate in mixed-ability classrooms. 2nd ed. Alexandria, VA. Formative Evaluative Criteria for Applications and Reflective Essays