Learner Diversity
The existence of learner diversity calls for differentiation in teaching activities. Recognising that no two students learn the same, and that a classroom is made up of many students who have different learning needs, teachers will need to plan for learning in many different methods. Part of identifying the best course of action to address learning needs is understanding the way the classroom has been built up. By taking into consideration the intellectual, socioeconomic, Indigenous or non-Indigenous status, multicultural (EAL/D), gender, health, and literacy level status’ of each student, the teacher is equipped to understand what learning methods are best suited for the class. From there on, the teacher is able to create individualised learning plans, if a student is falling behind, based on the factors which may affect their learning. For example, students who come from a low-socioeconomic background may experience financial hardship and therefore may not have access to a laptop. Classroom activities which involve the use of online resources becomes inaccessible to them. As a result, they are not meeting the requirements of the course as they cannot utilise all the information that their peers are receiving. To address this issue, the teacher could provide paper copies of worksheets, ensure all students work in pairs and share a device, and set homework that does not involve the use of a laptop. The school could provide laptops for students to borrow if they do not have their own.
Grace Mokdassi 