By: Cassie Hull, Abdul Samad, Marc Yeo, Zuhaib Suleman
First Impressions
Hi! To start off we just want to say great job on this resource! You guys put a lot of thought into making this an engaging, well-structured, and practical tool for educators. Differentiated instruction is such an important topic, and you’ve done a great job of breaking it down in a way that feels both accessible and applicable.
We appreciated how much emphasis you put on inclusivity, interactivity, and real-world application. Your use of case studies, discussion boards, role-playing, and collaborative lesson planning makes this more than just an informational resource, it’s something that could be used and applied to real-life situations.
We do have a few suggestions that we think could help make the final version even stronger!
Strengths
Clear Structure & Strong Learning Objectives
One thing we all agreed on is that your resource is very well-structured. Everything is clearly laid out, and the learning objectives are well-defined. It’s easy to see how each section builds on the last, which makes for a smooth and cohesive learning experience.
We also liked that you included constructivism as your foundational learning theory. It makes perfect sense for differentiated instruction since it’s all about active, student-centered learning.
One suggestion we had was adding a specific classroom scenario where differentiation is being applied. Maybe by adding a real-world example of how a teacher adapts a single lesson for students with different learning needs? This could possibly help emphasize the theory in practical application.
Thoughtful & Engaging Activities
The use of interactive elements is one of the biggest strengths we found in this resource. We liked how you included:
- Case studies for analyzing real differentiation strategies
- Discussion boards to encourage peer interaction
- Role-playing scenarios to simulate classroom situations
- Peer-reviewed lesson plans to promote collaboration
- Kahoot, quizzes for quick formative assessment
These all ensure that educators actively engage with the material rather than just passively reading through it.
The assessment plan was well designed
We also think your assessment plan is strong. The mix of reflective essays, case study analyses, peer-reviewed lesson plans, and the final portfolio ensures that educators have multiple ways to demonstrate their understanding. It’s great that you’ve included both formative and summative assessments so learners can track their growth throughout the course.
We did have one question which was how will feedback be provided for the assessments? Will there be rubrics for things like case studies and peer feedback? Having clear expectations could help ensure that the feedback is consistent and actionable.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
We appreciated how much thought you guys put into making this resource inclusive. The way you addressed English language learners, students with disabilities, and educators from under-resourced schools is really important. Also, by providing content in multiple formats, videos, readings, and hands-on activities makes the resource more accessible for different learning styles.
Smart Use of Technology
Your technology choices make a lot of sense and were a smart decision! Using Brightspace as the main platform keeps things organized and familiar, as well as using tools like Google Docs, Canva, PowerPoint, and H5P allow for flexibility, creativity and are all user-friendly!
Some weaknesses
More Feedback & Assessment Criteria
As we mentioned earlier, it might help to clarify how feedback will be given on assessments. Would educators receive both instructor and peer feedback? If peer feedback is a key component, will there be guidelines or a checklist to ensure feedback is constructive? By including a simple rubric for case studies, discussion boards, or lesson plans could help keep assessments consistent and clear.
More Real-World Classroom Examples
The theory behind differentiated instruction is super strong, but we’d love to see more real-world stories from teachers. Maybe by including:
- A short video or report from a teacher who has successfully used differentiation
- A detailed case study from a real classroom A discussion forum prompt where educators can share their own differentiation experiences
This could make the resource feel even more practical and inspire educators with real, proven strategies.
Checking for Mobile & Offline Accessibility
Since not all educators have consistent access to high-speed internet or a laptop, it might be worth checking if H5P, Kahoot, and discussion boards work well on mobile? Or if these materials can be downloaded to use offline? Making sure everything is mobile-friendly and accessible offline would help ensure that no one is left out.
Adding a Self-Assessment Option
We liked how much is course focuses on reflection, It could be helpful to include a self-assessment tool at the start and end of the course. Maybe a pre-course reflection where educators rate their confidence in:
- Using differentiation strategies
- Adapting lessons for diverse learners
- Incorporating technology into differentiation
Then, at the end of the course, they could reflect on how they’ve grown. This could be a nice way to personalize the learning journey.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we were all really impressed with this resource! The structure is clear, the interactive elements make learning engaging, and the emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility is well done. With a couple of tweaks, such as clarifying feedback, adding real-world teacher examples, and ensuring mobile accessibility, this could be an even more impactful resource for educators.
It was a great interactive learning resource, and we’re looking forward to seeing the final version!
