Week 2 focuses on research-informed understanding of inclusivity
Research shows that inclusive teaching works best when learning is designed for all learners. Differentiation tailors content and assessment to learners’ needs. Culturally responsive pedagogy values their identities and experiences. Universal Design for Learning provides multiple ways to engage, represent and share the learning. Together, these approaches create equitable environments where all learners can participate, contribute and succeed.
Diversity: Differentiation in teaching and learning
Differentiation is about deliberate teaching choices that remove barriers and create multiple pathways for learning while keeping the same high expectations for all learners. It is not about doing more work, it’s about doing smarter work.
What we differentiate (without changing the learning goal)
1. Content – How learners access the learning
Same big idea, different entry points
Visuals, hands-on materials, oral explanations, texts at varied levels
2. Process – How learners make sense of learning
Flexible grouping
Guided support, independent tasks, collaborative inquiry
Choice in how to explore ideas
3. Product – How learners show understanding
Writing, drawing, building, explaining, performing
Focus on evidence of learning, not the format
4. Learning Environment – Conditions for success
Physical, social and cultural safety
Flexible spaces, routines and supports
We are not differentiating the destination — we are differentiating the pathways. All learners work towards the same big ideas, but they don’t all take the same route to get there.
Actions:
Watch this presentation from Dr Cathy Buntting and Dr Carrie Vander Zwagg, whose work draws on established research and professional expertise to support inclusive, evidence-informed practice in science education.
What does it mean to design learning for all learners from the outset, rather than adapting it afterwards?
What barriers to learning might exist in your current classroom context, and how could deliberate teaching choices help remove them?
How can you maintain high expectations for all learners while offering different pathways to access the same learning goal?
Image background elements courtesy of Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ. Crown copyright, CC BY 4.0
