Differentiated instruction and assessment (also known as
differentiated learning or, in education, simply,
differentiation) is a framework or philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing different
students with different avenues to learning (often in the same classroom) in terms of: acquiring content; processing, constructing, or making sense of
ideas; and developing
teaching materials and assessment measures so that all students within a
classroom can
learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability. Students vary in culture,
socioeconomic status, language, gender, motivation, ability/
disability, personal interests and more, and teachers must be aware of these varieties as they plan curriculum. By considering varied learning needs, teachers can develop personalized instruction so that all children in the classroom can learn effectively. Differentiated classrooms have also been described as ones that respond to student variety in readiness levels, interests and learning profiles. It is a classroom that includes all students and can be successful. To do this, a teacher sets different expectations for task completion for students based upon their individual needs.