Explained: Differentiated learning and strategies for inclusive education

What is differentiation in education? 

Differentiation in education refers to the changes, responses and variations that teachers make to support the diverse learning needs of students. Effective differentiation operates on the basis that every child can reach their full learning potential, with the appropriate support and guidance.  

How do students benefit from differentiation in education? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to teaching and learning, so variation and differentiation are required to allow every student the opportunity to reach their goals regardless of specific learning needs or challenges.  

It’s important to remember that differentiation doesn’t just benefit the gifted and talented; it’s also a necessary teaching approach for students with disability and special needs to access the same curriculum as their peers.  

You might have one student that excels at reading and writing, while another who might get overstimulated learning in a group setting; regardless of their starting point, both students are going to benefit from learning strategies that are differentiated to their specific needs.  

Instead of setting the same task for every student with little variation or providing the same success criterion, teachers can use a mix of planned and contingent adjustments. These adjustments can support students’ understanding of concepts and help them absorb information, while developing key skills.  

That’s why differentiation can focus on specific instructional elements and management strategies, that include:  

• Content: Differentiated content may be needed to help students gain the knowledge, understanding and skills that students learn. For example, teachers might need to present content in various forms (visual, electronic etc.) to different students based on their ways of learning.  
• Process: Differentiation may need to be made to processes that help students make sense of the content they’re learning. For example, students might digest content at different speeds and are encouraged to ask questions and learn through trial and error. Getting all students to complete the same task could mean that some students might not feel challenged enough, while others might struggle to complete it at all. 
• Product: Differentiation may be required in the ways that students demonstrate what they’ve learned and what they understand from the content. For example, assessments may need to be provided in multiple choice or long-form test formats.   
• Learning environment: Differentiation can occur in the physical learning environment of the classroom and modifications might need to be made. For example, providing ear plugs or headphones to students who struggle working with elevated noise in group work. 

What are differentiated learning strategies?  

As we’ve touched on, there’s more than one way to implement differentiated learning strategies in your classroom. Some practical approaches that you can use include: 

• Providing varied levels of challenge for those who are behind, in the middle or advanced  
• Providing multiple different pathways to learning, encouraging students to find their learning style 
• Applying different instructional strategies  

Specifically, these differentiation teaching strategies can look like: 

• Flexible groupings: Students are organised into small groups based on learning style or skill level 
• Choice boards: Students are offered a menu of activity options, allowing them to select tasks that align with their strengths  
• Tiered tasks: Learning assignments are designed with variation to suit different ability and readiness levels of students  
• Ongoing assessment: Using formative assessment throughout the teaching period to monitor students’ progress and understanding of key concepts, and adapting instruction appropriately  
• Technology integration: By using adaptive learning software and interactive apps, teachers can differentiate and personalise students’ instruction  

What is an example of differentiated instruction? 

An example of differentiated instruction can be seen where a teacher uses a tiered assignment approach for a science lesson. In this scenario, students are learning about ecosystems, but the tasks are designed to align with their varying levels of ability and learning styles. 

• Foundational learners: Identify and describe basic components of an ecosystem using visual aids and structured prompts. 
• Intermediate learners: Analyse the impact of human activity on a specific ecosystem and present findings in a format of their choice, such as a report, slideshow, or creative video 
• Hands-on learners: Work in small groups to construct a model of an ecosystem, complete with labels and explanations. 

Throughout this process, the teacher provides tailored support, such as additional resources for those who need more guidance and opportunities for self-directed exploration for advanced learners. This approach ensures that all students are engaged, challenged, and able to demonstrate their understanding in a way that suits their unique strengths and needs. 

What is inclusive education?  

The goal of inclusive education is ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, learning style or cultural background, have access to education. The alignment between inclusive education and differentiated learning is seamless; both recognise and value individual differences and provide equitable opportunities for learning.  

Find out more about what inclusivity looks like in the classroom in our 'What is inclusive education?' blog. 

How does differentiation support a more inclusive learning environment?  

Differentiated learning promotes inclusive education in the classroom by: 

1. Promoting equity  
   By using differentiated learning strategies, teachers can ensure that students get the specific support they require to connect with the curriculum and reach their individual potential.  
2. Supporting collaborative learning 
   Teachers that utilise group work and peer learning in their differentiated instruction are likely to observe an increase in empathy, communication skills and a sense of community among their students.  
3. Engaging diverse learners 
   Differentiated instruction in the classroom can help keep students more engaged and motivated. Acknowledging and incorporating differences in learning preferences, interests and abilities allows students to have a clear pathway to learning.  
4. Building a sense of belonging  
   Differentiated learning experiences encourage a feeling of belonging in the classroom by embracing individual strengths and supporting students in addressing areas for growth. This effective teaching approach ensures that students don’t feel left behind, but rather they feel valued and respected.  

To discover more about inclusive education in the classroom, visit our article, ‘4 Principles of Inclusive Education’. 

Bringing it all together in the classroom 

While using differentiated learning strategies has many benefits, it does also come with additional challenges. You may notice an increase in the time required for planning and analysis. There are great tools available that can alleviate some of this pressure such as digital Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) to manage the implementation of the specific goals and action plans in place for individual students. 

To learn more about ILPs and how they can play a part in building your inclusive learning environment, visit our Advice Hub with plenty of articles on Improving Student Outcomes.  

You can also read about how you can set your school up for success with Individual Learning Plans in our guide, ‘8 learning support challenges Learning Pathways can solve for your school’.