Individual Differences,

Factors,
Benefits of Diversity, and
Classroom Strategies
“ I’ll tell you this: There are some people,
and then there are others.
-Anne Harris
”
What does the quote imply?
 INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
(Student Diversity)
• As the term implies, Individual Differences are qualities that are unique.
• Just one person has them at a time.
• For example: Variation in hair color
 FACTORS of Individual Differences
• In all learning environments, individuals interact with others who are in
some way different from them like gender, and racial, ethnic, or cultural
background (nationality, province, language)
 FACTORS of Individual Differences
3 Main Factors:
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
THINKING OR LEARNING STYLE
EXCEPTIONALITIES
 FACTORS of Individual Differences
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
- it depends on how individual differ in life style from that of the middle
income or lower income group.
- it also depends on a combination of variables including occupation,
education, income, wealth and place of residence.
 FACTORS of Individual Differences
THINKING / LEARNING STYLE
- involves the different strategies and techniques on how they learn easily
and effectively.
 FACTORS of Individual Differences
EXCEPTIONALITIES
- learners with exceptionalities as persons who are different in some way
from the "normal" or "average".
- Exceptional learners includes those with special needs related to cognitive
abilities, behavior, emotional disturbances and giftedness.
 BENEFITS of Student Diversity
Enriches the educational experience
Improves communication and thought processing skills
Challenges stereotypes
Students can see themselves in their leaders
Diversity better prepares students for the workforce
 CLASSROOM STRATEGIES for Student
Diversity
1. Encourage active learning (e.g Group learning, Case-based learning, Group discussions and talk-
and-turns, One-minute papers and one-sentence summaries, Demonstrations and memory matrixes, Muddiest
Point)

2. Embrace small groups

3. Group by learning style, not ability (place students who learn in similar ways together
— visual learners with visual learners, auditory with auditory, etc.)
4. Promote project-based learning (it is a way of actually helping students understand
what is being taught through hands-on methods.)
5. Incorporate ed-tech and adaptive learning tools
6. Provide alternative testing options
Encourage active learning
Embrace small groups
Group by learning style, not ability
Promote project-based learning
Incorporate ed-tech and adaptive
learning tools
Provide alternative testing options
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