SPRING-FORD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL

Name(s): JOSE THOMAS

School(s): 10-12 Center

I. Research Topic:

How do I incorporate Differentiated Instruction techniques into teaching benefit students?

II. Summary of reviewed literature

The following points are covered in the five sources that I read on Differentiated Instruction.

a. Differentiated Instruction and Examples of Specialized Instructional Practice.

Lesson Plans Should Reflect Teaching Styles and Learning Styles
Timothy Visel, January 2005

To reach different student learners lesson plans need to include varied approaches, and examples of
student responses to these varied instruction practices should be kept on file by teachers for review.
Rather than looking just at teacher behaviors a new emphasis is focused on what actually takes place in
the classroom. Evidence such as instructional practice, assessment instruments are cataloged for
exercises or activities for each style.

b. Differentiating instruction in the regular classroom: How to reach and teach

By Diane Heacox

Like all learners, students with special needs are unique individuals with distinct preferences
and interests. There are however tow important aspects about student diversity, the special
learning needs of gifted and talented students and of students with different learning disabilities.
The particular learning profiles of these population demands different kinds of differentiation.
Differentiation is the best instructional response for all students, including those with learning
differences.

c. A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching and Assessing: A revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy of

Educational Objectives. Anderson, L.W & Krathwohl (Eds) 2001

The revised taxonomy incorporates both the kind of knowledge to be learned and the process
used to learn, allowing for the instructional designer to efficiently align objectives to assessment
techniques. This understanding is critical in the implementation of Differentiated instruction.

d. The differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners. Carol Ann Tomlinson.

Teachers in differentiated classrooms begin with a clear and solid sense of what constitutes
powerful curriculum and engaging instruction. Then they ask what it will take to modify that
instruction so that each learner comes away with understandings and skills that offer guidance
to the next phase of learning. A lesson should incorporate several learning strategies and a plan
to engage all students regardless of their learning capabilities.
Revised 3/31/09
 e. Differentiated Instruction. Tracey Hall, Ph.D. NCAC

Flexible grouping is considered essential and other articles also have mentioned this grouping
technique. There’s also a evidence of Effectiveness where the author states there is a lack of
empirical validation associated with DI. However, there has been testimonials and teacher
feedback that support its effectiveness. The author suggests that other DI gurus strongly
recommend that teachers adapt the practices slowly, thinking about one subject area at a time.
This statement helped me to plan the implementation of DI in to my classroom.

III. Brief description of design for data collection/classroom observation:

For the purpose of this project I am describing Differentiated Instruction is a Way of Thinking
based on the following three characteristics (a) Assessment is ongoing and tightly linked to
instruction (b Teachers work hard to ensure respectful activities for all students (c) Flexible
grouping is a hallmark of the class. Based on these principles I am going to implement the
following strategies in the classroom. a) Selecting students to sit at a table in front of the
classroom and be the experts and the rest of the class solve problems and check their answers with
the experts. b) Allowing students to direct the Homework review session with minimal input from
the teacher. c) Allowing students to choose question from a list of problems to do in each
category. d) More flexible grouping in the geometry classes.

IV. Confirmation of participation in Spring 2009 Sharing Session:

I plan to verbally share my results and conclusions at a Spring-scheduled sharing session.

Revised 3/31/09