Module 6

This module has helped me think about self-directed learners and the role of differentiation in the following ways…

It is no surprise that individuals learn in different ways; therefore, this requires teachers to teach in different ways. Differentiated instruction consists of designing instructional goals and objectives that meets the needs of all students in order for them to use their strengths and interests to build their knowledge and skills. Teachers can differentiate instruction in four different ways:

1. Content-teachers can adjust what students need to learn and how they get that information
2. Process-teachers can recommend different ways of approaching the content.
3. Products-teachers can allow students to rehearse, apply, and extend what they have learned in a multitude of ways.
4. Learning Environment-teachers can create a flexible classroom that facilitates student learning.

It is important for students to learn to be self-directed learners. This is a skill that is needed to be a productive citizen in the 21st century. If students are able to understand the ways in which they learn, they are better able to employ various strategies to meet their goals.