"When staff members lack the belief in and commitment to learning for all, they will attribute student failure to external factors," (p. 15).
Failing to succeed in an online environment could be a result of lack of effort, failure to connect to other students and the facilitator, limited time online/with materials, or student ability. Many master's level courses differentiate by choice (student select projects by individual interest). Outside of differentiating by choice, is there room for differentiating in collegiate level courses? After all, we hold students to a rigorous level where all must have the ability to synthesize and apply information to their own lives.
Could you define what you mean by differentiating? In regards to what -- focus of one's studies, or level of understanding, or something else? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGood question to think about!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you can differentiate online in collegiate level courses simply by gathering information about the students at the beginning of the course. If the instructor is familiar with individual strengths, weaknesses, areas of interest, etc., he/she could create assignments to relate this. For example, my profile would indicate a strong visual learning style preference so perhaps the instructor posts notes in a powerpoint presentation that I am to respond to as opposed to a posted written summary.
Dawn
Sandy,
ReplyDeleteSure! By differentiation, I mean instructing in a variety of, or differentiated, ways. This will appeal to a wide range of learning styles. Differentiated curriculum focuses on the content: grade level texts, scaffolded lessons. Finally, in order to differentiate by choice, teachers could give students options for final assessment. So, you let the students focus on individual strengths.
Dawn,
Great ideas. I also think we personalize our own education. Although CSU determines what core classes we take, we have electives. And even within set courses, we add our own experience and play off of individual strengths when completing research/researching ideas of adult ed.
Thank you for the comments,
Ashley