Definition of Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated instruction is a set of teaching procedures carried out by the teacher to provide multiple entry points that meet the diverse needs and abilities of students within a single classroom. It is also defined as an approach in which teachers modify curricula, teaching practices, and tools to meet the diverse needs of students and maximize learning opportunities for each individual student. This type of education aims to create different learning and teaching opportunities for students by diversifying teaching strategies, activities, and tasks.
Importance of Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated instruction is an important teaching strategy for several reasons:
* Addressing Individual Differences: Differentiated instruction is specifically designed to suit the different needs of students, including their prior knowledge, readiness for learning, interests, and preferred learning styles.
* Variety in Activities: It allows for a variety of activities and learning situations that suit different learning styles.
* Skill Development: It contributes to the development of students' ability to solve mathematical problems and think critically. It also reveals their mathematical creativity.
* Improving the Quality of Education: It aims to raise the level of education for all learners, not just a specific group. It also contributes to increasing the effectiveness of education and gaining student satisfaction.
Methods of Use and Application in Mathematics
Scientific studies confirm the necessity for a mathematics teacher to consider individual differences among learners, because students do not learn in the same way. This requires the teacher to use a variety of teaching and learning strategies.
According to some scientific studies, the differentiated instruction strategy was applied in an experimental study on first-year secondary school students in mathematics. The application focused on the "Linear Programming" and "The Straight Line" units.
* A teacher's guide and a student activities booklet were used to implement this strategy.
* The application focused on developing students' mathematical problem-solving skills, which include:
* Reading and understanding the problem.
* Planning the solution.
* Executing the solution.
* Checking the validity of the solution.
The results of some studies showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the group that studied using differentiated instruction, which indicates the effectiveness of this strategy in developing mathematical problem-solving skills.
