This online facilitated session explores how teachers of adult learners can vary content, instructional processes, and assessments of learning outcomes to support the success of learners with varying backgrounds, levels, goals, and needs. Effective differentiation helps ensure that all learners can engage with rigorous instruction while building the language, literacy, and workforce readiness skills needed to achieve their educational, career, and personal goals. We provide examples for English learners at beginning through advanced levels, as well as for learners whose first language is English, and consider applications to both online and in-person classes.
- Adult Education and ESOL teachers
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
Multilevel classes are a reality in nearly every adult education and English language program and should not be viewed as a barrier to providing rigorous, high-quality instruction for all learners. In this facilitated session, participants explore a systematic approach to differentiating instruction in both online and in-person environments to create an optimal learning experience for everyone.
You will learn how to vary content, instructional processes, and products or assessments of learning outcomes to support learners with varying backgrounds, proficiency levels, learning needs, and goals. Participants will explore strategies that help all learners access complex texts, engage in meaningful learning, and build the knowledge and skills that contribute to workforce preparation and long-term economic mobility.
Examples are provided for English learners from beginning through advanced levels, as well as for learners whose first language is English. Through discussion and reflection, participants will apply differentiation strategies to their own instructional settings, designing learning experiences that promote learner success in education, the workplace, and everyday life.
Virtual Session: Thursday, February 11, 1 – 3 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Before the course opens, registrants will receive a separate email with instructions on how to access your course in Canvas. If you do not receive these instructions, please check your Spam folder and/or send an email to nruskin@edc.org
- Identify the characteristics of a multilevel class that extend beyond language or academic proficiency levels, including learners' goals, experiences, and workforce preparation needs
- Identify strategies for differentiating content, instructional processes, and products or assessments as part of intentional instructional planning to support rigorous learning and workforce readiness for all learners
- Apply a systematic process for differentiating content, instructional processes, and products or assessments using instructional tasks from your own teaching context to better support diverse learners and their educational, career, and economic mobility goals
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
ESOL teachers will benefit from watching the video, ESOL Instructional Delivery, which shows how differentiated instruction aligns to the MA ESOL Professional Standard Six: Instructional Delivery.
United States
