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Basics of Differentiation

Basics of Differentiation

Course Description

This course introduces the basics of differentiation and what it looks like to differentiate for all students in the classroom.  This course also provides a process for how to get started differentiating in the classroom and how to start building a repertoire of differentiated lessons.  With several strategies, this differentiation course shows that there are many ways to differentiate within the classroom, but the most important step is to just start.

This is an online course.  Upon registration, your course materials will be emailed to you.

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Course Numbers

  • Adams State: ED 589
  • UMass Global: EDDU 9609
  • CSU Pueblo: ED 501

 

Course Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Students will be able to show ways they can start differentiating in their classrooms to meet the needs of their students.
  • Students will learn how to differentiate for content, process, and product within a lesson.
  • Students will develop a “low-prep” differentiated strategy and a “high-prep” differentiated strategy to implement in the classroom.
  • Students will develop skills to reflect on & improve their own teaching practices.

 

Relevancy to Practice: This course provides educators with the following relevant information to help improve their practice:

  • Implementing differentiation strategies consistently to respond to and meet the needs of all students in the classroom.
  • Differentiating content, process and/or product within lessons
  • Differentiating for student learning preferences, interests and readiness.
  • Guidance about where to start with differentiation in the classroom and how to start small.
  • Designing and implementing both low-prep and high-prep differentiation strategies in the classroom starting with just one lesson or one unit.
  • Getting to know your students in order to meet their learning needs and incorporate their interests in your lessons.
  • Using assessments as a way to gain knowledge about your students and differentiate for them accordingly.
  • A variety of systems and routines to implement in order support daily differentiation in the classroom.
  • Developing a support system for yourself with your colleagues, the parents of your students, and the community.

 

Course Assignments

  1. Reading Reflection
  2. Video & Reading Reflection
  3. Final Reflection on Differentiation

Course Format 

This is an online course. Please use course materials emailed to you upon your original registration.

Brain Research Syllabus

Course Description

This course introduces the basics of differentiation and what it looks like to differentiate for all students in the classroom. This course also provides a process for how to get started differentiating in the classroom and how to start building a repertoire of differentiated lessons. With several strategies, this differentiation course shows that there are many ways to differentiate within the classroom, but the most important step is to just start.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to show ways they can start differentiating in their
    classrooms to meet the needs of their students.
  • Students will learn how to differentiate for content, process, and product
    within a lesson.
  • Students will develop a “low-prep” differentiated strategy and a “high-prep”
    differentiated strategy to implement in the classroom.
  • Students will develop skills to reflect on & improve their own teaching
    practices.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

This course addresses the following student learning outcomes to the degree shown in the table. Degree Addressed is rated according to the following scale:

1=Basic, 2=Developing, 3=Proficient, 4=Advanced

Student Learning OutcomeDegree Addressed
1. Demonstrate growth in content knowledge related to teaching assignment and the application of content knowledge to classroom instruction and assessment.3
2. Understand scientifically-based practices in teaching and learning, including strategies in literacy education, instructional technology, differentiation of instruction, and apply them to raise student achievement.2
3. Demonstrate multiple means of assessing and evaluating student learning and use them to change teaching and learning.2
4. Locate, interpret, synthesize, and apply educational research in best practices in teaching.2
5. Understand models for professional change, including teacher collaboration, professional learning communities, strategies for mentoring and coaching to facilitate change, and effective professional development.1
6. Demonstrate understanding of reflective practice that results in improved classroom teaching and learning, including teacher reflection, use of technology in self-assessment, collaboration for change, and self-management of change.2
7. Demonstrate understanding of system and organizational change in education, including models for school change and current research and trends in school change.1
8. Demonstrate responsibility for student learning at high levels.3
9. Demonstrate responsibility for school reform and leadership in school change.1

Course Materials

Readings

  • The Differentiated Classroom, 2nd Edition: Responding to the Needs of All Learners by Carol Ann Tomlinson. (pg. 1-183)
  • Ready-to-Use Differentiation Strategies by Laurie E. Westphal. (pg. 1-153)
    *NOTE: These books will not be provided by Credits for Teachers or CSU Pueblo. Students will need to purchase these books. The price is not included in the purchase price of the course.

Video

  • Getting Started on Differentiated Instructions (4:55)

Implementation

  • Semester Plan Template
  • Hour Log Template
  • Hour Log Example

*NOTE: The example is meant to act as a reference for what different entries could look like in the hour log assignment. Although this example relates to the Growth Mindset course, it is meant to be used as a model for what to include in the hour log assignment. Students are expected to include their own entries.

Course Evaluation Form

No-Risk Guarantee: You can cancel a course registration within 30-days and receive a 100% refund, no questions asked.

Registration Now Open: Register now and receive your course materials within 24 hours.  Course materials are due within 6 months of registering for the course.

Price:

Starting at $189.00

Credits:

3

Graduate Credits

*Pricing may not include University Fees. Select option to include fees.

University Fee

Course fee may or may not include the university’s registration fee depending on the university partner. University fees are not included in the registration fee for Adam’s State University and University of Massachusetts Global. 

Those additional fees are:
University of Massachusetts Global: $70/credit
Adam’s State University: $55/credit  

Instructions for how to register with your selected University Partner and pay additional fees will be provided after registering with Credits for Teachers.

University fees for Colorado State University Pueblo are included in the course fees. 

Please note that we cannot grant refunds for students who have already turned in work for a course, even if it is within the 30-day window.

Refunds Policy

Students are able to request a full refund of any Credits for Teachers course within 30 days of registration.  In order to do so, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name and the course you registered for and we will complete the refund.

Exchange Policy

Students are able to exchange one course for another within 30 days of registration as long as the course price is the same and the student does not change the university Partner.  In order to exchange a course, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name, course you have registered for and the course you would like to switch to.

Please note that we cannot exchange a course once for students who have already submitted their course for grading, even if it is within the 30-day window.

Transfer Policy

Students that would like to transfer their course from one university partner to another may have the opportunity to do so within the first 30 days of registering for a course.  In order to transfer your course to a different University Partner, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name, the course you are currently registered for and the new University Partner you’d like to switch to.