Why D.I. -- "Ah Ha" Moment

I can't speak for others, but I know I always learn so much by preparing for and leading workshops and presentations for colleagues. Right now I'm preparing for a session I'll be leading at NECC 2008 in San Antonio -- Technology and Differentiated Instruction (Monday, 6/30, at 3:30 pm), and as I was reflecting on the Tech4DI wiki and other material I'll be sharing I had one of those "Ah ha!" moments.

I was thinking about the purposes of Differentiated Instruction (DI) as I was editing an LMSD Podologue episode (embedded below) from a similar session I presented at PETE & C in Hershey, PA, in February. I knew from presenting this topic a number of times previously and talking with many educators about the DI framework that a number of misconceptions persist about DI and what it is. One teacher told me her principal was pushing DI as a means of addressing under-achieving students and raising their test scores. Other teachers are surprised to learn that DI is intended to meet the needs of all learners -- including those traditionally considered gifted (through enhancement, enrichment, and extension opportunities, for example). Some teachers think of DI as a way to individualize education for each student in a classroom -- it is not practical, not feasible, not possible; DI is not an individualized plan for each student.

But as I was considering these misconceptions, and the fact that DI is meant to be an efficient and effective collection of strategies to provide a range of learning opportunities appropriate for the range of skills, experiences, learning styles, and interests of a classroom full of students, it struck me. Even understanding this, one might still think the primary purpose of DI is to increase student achievement -- as reflected on standardized assessments or inclusive of classroom assessments and grades.

Now it's a fine goal to improve student achievement -- and we should not lose sight of that goal, but I believe that Differentiated Instruction can and should serve an even broader purpose -- to help students understand and hone their own learning styles and best strategies for learning and problem-solving (meta-cognition), to help develop in students a love of learning and a passionate curiosity they will carry with them for a life-time, and to appreciate the value of working together and sharing diverse understanding and skills to achieve a common goal. As we develop these qualities in our students, I also believe their achievement scores on standardized assessments will go up -- that goal alone, however, is just not sufficient!