Is differentiation really possible?

I am frequently critical of the prevailing model of American schooling in part because it fails to adequately differentiate for individual student learning needs and interests.  Practicing educators know this.  The challenge of differentation is huge: how do you take a diverse group of 20-30 kids who share little but the same chronical age and design a learning experience that meets them at the level of their readiness and also responds to their unique learning style, personality, and personal interests?

The truth is, we can do a lot better at this, even within the confines of traditional schooling structures.  It's not easy, but the work of Carol Ann Tomlinson makes it clear that better differentiation is within the reach of most teachers and schools.

But even the best teachers will struggle to provide meaningful differentation in classrooms that are structured as they are in the vast majority of schools.  That's why I think, if we want to get beyond the rigid, uninspiring, one-size-fits-all structure of schools, we have to imagine a totally different kind of learning environment, with a different kind of teacher-student and student-student relationship, and a different kind of approach to curriculum and assessment.  I think this could happen in three different ways:

 1.  A marketplace of schooling options.  One way to offer scalable differentiation is by fostering a real marketplace of educational choices for families.  In any community of moderate size there should be schools that specialize in traditional, "classic books" curricula, other schools that are technology rich and STEM focused, others still that are geared toward specific career interests, and still others that offer student-centered philosophies like Montessori (more on this below).  The idea here is that you don't have to differentiate for every single child if you can offer a learning experience that appeals to groups of students and families who share common interests and needs.  Of course, perhaps the best method to begin creating this marketplace is through some mechanism of school choice (vouchers, for example, or charter schools) that make these options affordable to all families regardless of income).

 

2.  Alternative learning models that, by their very essence, offer differentiation.  Examples here would include Montessori, which is much more highly-structured than is readily evident, but also is based heavily on students working at their own pace through a curriculum that is largely hidden under high-interest, hands-on activities.  While students have the opportunity to collaborate in their learning, there are no grades, no tests, none of the other structures of traditional schooling that typically lead to competition, ill feelings toward school, or gross standardization.  A more radical model would be the Sudbury approach, which is a form of "unschooling" that places the student entirely in control of his or her own curriculum.  Before you dismiss this idea, learn about the Sudbury experience and how it works so well for many students.

 

3.  Homeschooling (or blended homeschooling) offers perhaps the ultimate form of differentiation.  This is becoming an increasingly viable option for many families because of technology and the rich network of homeschooling families that are growing in many communities.  I'm also really excited about blended models ("a la carte" education) wherein a student might have a brick-and-mortal school that is her "hub," perhaps where she takes some classes or goes for career counseling or other resources, but spends the rest of her learning time in a mix of online activities, community-based service, apprenticeships, etc.  See also my thoughts on online learning and the future of schooling here and here.

Ultimately, rethinking the whole notion of "school" is fundamental to offering meaningful differentation.

Comments

[Kevin Angell]

A flexible, a la carte education model is exactly what I am looking for for my children. Thank you for verbalizing and exploring these non-traditional educational approaches. My wife and I recently began homeschooling our children because we were dissatisfied with the constraints of the the public school system. We wanted them to have more enriching experiences outside the classroom walls, to choose curriculum that better matched their interests and learning styles, and to progress through that curriculum at their own accelerated or remedial pace. Our experiment has succeeded in many ways, but we would welcome more opportunities for group instruction for such things as foreign language conversation, literature discussions, chemistry labs, and musical/performing arts. This is becoming a greater concern as our oldest daughter approaches high school next year. We have enjoyed participating in homeschool coops, community choir and theater groups, classes offered at museums and historical sites, and online courses, but find these options too few and insufficiently challenging.

I love the concept of a hub school where students can optionally take some classes in person and meet regularly with a guidance counselor to ensure they are achieving their educational goals. I also think it would be an efficient use of resources to hold some classes just one or two days per week. For example, students could study chemistry independently for three days and meet in person for labs twice during the week. Independent study may include use of prerecorded lectures, computer-based instruction, and completion of assignments and self tests, either at home or in a study-hall setting. This approach could potentially expand the capacity of existing school buildings and reduce transportation costs.

This a la carte approach may not appeal to all students or their parents, but the point of educational choice is to offer a variety of options so that students are more likely to find an option that works well for them. As President Obama famously said, "If you like your plan, you can keep it." This may not have worked perfectly for healthcare, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for public schools.

I recently discovered and have enjoyed reading your blog. Please keep pushing for educational reform in Kentucky, and perhaps your efforts will enlighten minds here in Virginia as well. Many thanks.