Differentiating the learning process with variety means varying the types of differentiated learning experiences offered throughout the school year. The goal is to expand the range of ways students can think, feel, learn, find and solve problems in order to stimulate their interest, enhance motivation and accommodate their preferred ways of learning. It enables highly able students to explore methods of learning to develop self-awareness of the methods and conditions under which they excel or struggle. They may also discover new ways in which they prefer to learn.

Students should be permitted and encouraged to study a single topic using different methods. The options provided are up to the teacher. The teacher may choose accommodate the student’s preferences, or work with a method the student needs to develop, although it is not a favorite. The latter will require more scaffolding and planning on the teacher’s part while the former may require less.

Examples

During the school year:
Introduce and use different approaches to developing thinking skill sets:

• Blooms Taxonomy^[75]
  • Creative Problem Solving^[76] (further developed by Treffinger^[77]
  • Critical Thinking^[78]

Vary the ways students participate with classmates:

• Work individually, on their own
• Pairs
• Groups
• Collaborate
• Compete

Projects:

• Individual pursuits
• Teams in problem-based learning or Webquests
• Whole class simulations

Vary the method of presenting information:

• Hands-on activities
• Print
• Video
• Demonstrations
• Speakers

Learning activities involving variety and choice:

• Choice Boards, Think-Tac-Toes or Tic-Tac-Toes
• Learning Centres: Think/Tic-Tac-Toes
• Cubes with assignment options on each side

Student-developed learning activities:

• Resources for teacher- or student developed questions:
  • Q-matrix
  • A Questioning Toolkit -different types of questions

The list of process options provided here may also be helpful when seeking new ways to vary the learning process.