-
1968
-
1141
-
812
-
616
-
601
Delving into Educators' Perspectives and Practices in Second Language Teaching Contexts: Differentiated Instruction in the Spotlight
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i3.6565Abstract
This study aims to investigate the perspectives and implementation of differentiated learner-centered strategies by 96 English teacher trainers and trainees in Rwanda, employing surveys and semi-structured interviews as data collection tools over one year. The findings reveal positive attitudes toward differentiated instruction but underscore the need for a more nuanced understanding of its practical application. Significant challenges identified include inadequate training, limited resources, and time constraints. The study proposes actionable solutions such as comprehensive professional development programs, enhanced resource allocation, and effective time management strategies. Highlighting the necessity for improved teacher training and capacity building to align practice with the demands of the 21st-century classroom, these findings hold substantial implications for instructional practices in English language education in Rwanda. The study offers valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers in the field.
Keywords:
Differentiated instruction; Differentiation; English language education; Teacher trainers; Learner-centred strategies; Teacher capacity building; Professional developmentReferences
Abbati, G.D., 2012. Differentiated Instruction: Understanding the personal factors and organizational conditions that facilitate differentiated instruction in elementary mathematics classrooms [PhD thesis]. Backley: University of California.
Aldosari, M.A., Aljabaa, A.H., Al-Sehaibany, F.S., et al., 2018. Learning style preferences of dental students at a single institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, evaluated using the VARK questionnaire. Advances in Medical Education and Practice. 9, 179–186. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S157686
Anderson, K., 2007. Tips for teaching: Differentiating instruction to include all students. Preventing School Failure. 3(51), 49–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3200/PSFL.51.3.49-54
Avgousti, M., 2018. Intercultural communicative competence and online exchanges: a systematic review. Computer Assisted Language Learning. 31, 1–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2018.1455713.
Awla, H.A., 2014. Learning styles and their relation to teaching styles. International Journal of Language and Linguistics. 2(3), 241–245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20140203.23
Bedir, G., 2015. Perception of teaching efficacy by primary and secondary school teachers. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education. 8(1), 41–54.
Begum, S., Ambreen, M., 2021. Differentiated instruction based on formative assessment in the associate degree in the education program. Journal of Educational Research. 24(1), 112–128.
Blatchford, P., 2012. Three generations of research on class size effects. In: Harris, K.R., Graham, S., Urdan, T. (eds). The American Psychological Association (APA) Educational Psychology Handbook. Vol.2 Individual Differences and Cultural and Contextual Factors. American Psychological Association: DC. pp. 529–554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/13274-021
Blatchford, P., 2016. Is it true that class size does not matter? A critical review of research on class size effects. In Blatchford, P., Chan, K.W., Galton, M., et al. (eds). Class Size: Eastern and Western perspectives. Routledge: Oxon. pp. 92–104.
Bobis, J., Russo, J., Downton, A., et al., 2021. Instructional moves that increase chances of engaging all students in learning mathematics. Mathematics. 9(6), 582. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/math9060582
Bondi, R.S., Dahnke, C., Zusho, A., 2019. How does changing “One-Size-Fits-All” to differentiated instruction affect teaching? Review of Research in Education. 43(1), 336–362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X18821130
Chien, C., 2015. Analysis of Taiwanese elementary school English teachers’ perceptions of, designs of, and knowledge constructed about differentiated instruction in content. Cogent Education. 2(1), 1111040. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2015.1111040
Conderman, G., Hedin, L., 2015. Differentiating Instruction in Co-Taught Classrooms for Students with Emotional/Behaviour Difficulties. Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties. 20(4), 349–361. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2014.976918
Connor, C.M., Piasta, S.B., Glasney, S., et al., 2009. Individualizing student instruction precisely: Effects of child-by-instruction interactions on students’ literacy. Child Development. 80(1), 77–100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01247.x
Creswell, J.W., 2019. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches. Sage Publications.
D'Agnese, V., 2017. Reclaiming education in the age of PISA: Challenging OECD's educational order, 1st ed. Routledge: United Kingdom. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315269436.
De Jager, T., 2017. Perspectives of teachers on differentiated teaching in multi-cultural South African secondary schools. Studies in Educational Evaluation. 53, pp.115–121.
De Neve, D., Devos, G., Tuytens, M., 2015. The importance of job resources and self-efficacy for beginning teachers' professional learning in differentiated instruction. Teaching and Teacher Education. 47, 30–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2014.12.003
Dewey, J., 1929. My pedagogic creed. Washington: Progressive Education Association.
Dweck, C.S., 2006. Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House: New York.
Eikeland, I., Ohna E., 2022. Differentiation in education: A configurative review, Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy. 8(3), 157–170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2022.2039351
Faber, J.M., Glas, C.A.W., Visscher, A.J., 2018. Differentiated instruction in a data-based decision-making context. School Effectiveness and School Improvement. 29(1), 43–63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2017.136634292
Fitzgerald, P., 2016. Differentiation for all literacy levels in mainstream classrooms. Literacy Learning: The Middle Years. 24(2), 17–25. DOI: https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.041587236073899
Fouka, G., Marianna, M., 2011. What are the Major Ethical Issues in Conducting Research? Health Science Journal. 5(1), 3–14.
Gardner, H.E., 2011. Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences, 2nd ed. Basic books: United States.
Graham, L.J., White, S.L., Cologon, K., et al., 2020. Do teachers’ years of experience make a difference in the quality of teaching? Teaching and Teacher Education. 96, 103190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103190
Haggerty, K.D., 2004. Ethics creep: Governing social science research in the name of ethics. Qualitative Sociology. 27(4), 391–414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QUAS.0000049239.15922.a3
Hartwig, S., Schwabe F. 2018. Teacher attitudes and motivation as mediators between teacher training, collaboration, and differentiated instruction. Journal for Educational Research Online. 10(1), 100–122.
Held, V., 2006. The ethics of care: Personal, political, and global. Oxford University Press: United States.
Holzberger, D., Kunter, M. 2014. Loving teaching: Research on teachers’ intrinsic orientations. In: Richardson, P.W., Karabenick, S., Watt, H.M.G. (eds). Teacher Motivation: Theory and Practice. Routledge: New York. pp. 83–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203119273-6
Hughes, A.S., 2016. Mixed Methods Research. Available from: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/mixed-methods-research (cited 5 February 2024).
Johnson, R., Onwuegbuzie, A., Turner, L., 2007. Toward a Definition of Mixed Methods Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research. 1(2), 112–133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689806298224.
Jung, P.-G., McMaster, K.L., Kunkel, A.K., et al., 2018. Effects of data-based individualization for students with intensive learning needs: a meta-analysis. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice. 33(3), 144–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ldrp.12172, 3.
Koehler, S., 2010. Effects of Differentiating for Readiness, Interest and Learning Profile [Master’s thesis]. New York: St. John Fisher University.
Lai, C.P., Zhang, W., Chang, Y.L., 2020. Differentiated instruction enhances sixth-grade students’ mathematics self-efficacy, learning motives, and problem-solving skills. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal. 48 (6), 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.9094
Leballo, M., Griffiths, D., Bekker, T., 2021. Differentiation practices in a private and government high school classroom in Lesotho: Evaluating teacher responses. South African Journal of Education. 41(1), 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v41n1a1835
LeeKeenan, D., Ponte, I.C., 2018. From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program. National Association for the Education of Young Children: United States.
Lunsford, K.J., 2017. Challenges to Implementing Differentiated Instruction in Middle School Classrooms with Mixed Skill Levels [PhD thesis]. Minneapolis: Walden University.
Maddox, C., 2015. Elementary (K-5) teachers’ perceptions of differentiated instruction [PhD Thesis]. Minneapolis: Walden University.
Mantzorou, M., Mastrogiannis, D., 2011. The Value and Significance of Knowing the Patient for Professional Practice, according to Carper's Patterns of Knowing. Health Science Journal. 5(4), 251–261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.18.8.13
Mbonyiryivuze, A., Yadav, L.L., Amadalo, M.M., 2021. Students’ attitudes towards physics in nine years basic education in Rwanda. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education. 10(2), 648–659. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i2.21173
Melese, S., 2019. Instructors’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of differentiated instruction: The case of a college of education and behavioral sciences. Curriculum and Teaching Studies. 6(1), 1642294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2019.1642294
Merawi, T.M., 2018. Primary school teachers’ perceptions of differentiated instruction (DI) in Awi Administrative Zone, Ethiopia. Bahir Dar Journal of Education. 18(2), 152–173.
Morina, N., Sterr, T.N., 2019. Lack of evidence for the efficacy of psychotherapies for PTSD and depression in child and adolescent refugees. World Psychiatry. 18(1), 107–108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20596.
Musengimana, J., Kampire, E., Ntawiha, P., 2022. Effect of task-based learning on students’ understanding of chemical reactions among selected Rwandan lower secondary school students. Journal of Baltic Science Education. 21(1), 140–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/22.21.140
Ngendahayo, E., Askell-Williams, H., 2016. Rwanda’s New Competence-Based School Curriculum. In: Orrell, J., Curtis, D.D. (eds). Publishing Higher Degree Research. SensePublishers: Rotterdam. pp. 155–165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-672-9_16
Nicholas, M., Rouse, E., Paatsch, L., 2021. Child-centered teaching: Helping each child to reach their full potential. Education Sciences. 11(6), 280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/edusci11060280
Nurasiah, L., Priatna, B.A., Priatna, N. (editors), 2020. The effect of differentiated instruction on student mathematical communication ability. Proceedings of The International Conference on Innovation in Research; 2018 Aug 28–29; Bali. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-65961/1469/1/012160
Nsenga, C. S. , Andala, H. O., 2022. Learner Centred Teaching Techniques and Students’ Engagement in English Subject in Public Secondary Schools in Musha Sector, Rwamagana District, Rwanda. Journal of Education, 5(3), 27–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t4080
Oikonomou, N., Papadopoulos, I., 2024. Literacy of Communication in Early Childhood Education: Investigating communication strategies in Greece. European Journal of Education Studies 11(7), 26-51
Papadopoulos, I., 2020. From translanguaging pedagogy to classroom pedagogy: Supporting literacy, communication and cooperative creativity. Thessaloniki: Disigma Publications.
Papadopoulos, I., 2021. Translanguaging as a Pedagogical Practice in Primary Education: Approaching, Managing and Teaching Diverse Classrooms. In: Papadopoulos, I., Papadopoulou, Sm. (eds). Applied Linguistics Research and Good Practices for Multilingual and Multicultural Classrooms. NOVA Science Publisher: New York. pp. 147-168.
Papadopoulos, I., 2022. Translanguaging as a pedagogical practice for successful inclusion in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms. In: Meletiadou E. (eds) Handbook of research on policies and practices for assessing inclusive teaching and learning. IGI Global: Hershey. pp. 422-448.
Papadopoulos, I., 2024. Investigating dialogic literacy from persuasive perspectives in monolingual and bilingual preschoolers. In: V. Zorbas (ed), Dialogues on Teaching and Learning in Multicultural and Multilingual Environments. NOVA Science Publishers: New York.
Papadopoulos, I., Bourogianni, M.E., 2024. Delving into Word and Print Awareness in 4-Year-Old Children. British Journal of Education, 12(3), 41-54.
Papadopoulos, I., Hathaway, T., 2024. Multilingual Early Childhood Education: Modern Approaches and Research. NOVA Science Publishers: New York.
Papadopoulos, I., Jansen, P., 2024. Insider Views and Practices of Translanguaging Classrooms in Early Childhood Education. World Journal of Educational Research, 11(3), 1-21.
Papadopoulos, I., Papadopoulou, E., 2023. Pedagogical and Research Perspectives on Language Education. NOVA Publishers: New York.
Papadopoulos, I., Shin, J.K., 2021. Developing young foreign language learners’ persuasive strategies through intercultural. Research Papers in Language Teaching and Learning, 1(1), 185-202
Pereira, M., Tay, J., Maeda, Y., et al., 2019. Differentiation as measured by the classroom practices survey: A validity study updating the original instrument. Learning Environments Research. 22, 443–460. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-019-09284-z
Powell, M.A., Smith, A.B., 2009. Children’s Participation Rights in Research. Childhood. 16(1), 124–142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0907568208101694
Roy, A., Guay, F., Valois, P., 2013. Teaching to address diverse learning needs: development and validation of a Differentiated Instruction Scale. International Journal of Inclusive Education. 17(11), 1186–1204. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2012.743604
Ruys, I., Defruyt, S., Rots, I., et al., 2013. Differentiated instruction in teacher education: A case study of congruent teaching. Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice. 19(1), 93–107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2013.744201
Shareefa, M., Moosa, V., Zin, R.M., et al., 2019. Teachers’ perceptions on differentiated instruction: Do experience, qualification and challenges matter? International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research. 18(8), 214–226.
Schoonenboom, J., Burke, J., 2017. How to Construct a Mixed Methods Research Design. Kolner Z Soz Sozpsychol. 69, 107–131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11577-017-0454-1
Siam, K., Al-Natour, M., 2016. Teacher’s differentiated instruction practices and implementation challenges for learning disabilities in Jordan. International Education Studies. 9(12), 167–181. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ies.v9n12p167
Smit, R., Humpert, W., 2012. Differentiated instruction in small schools. Teaching and Teacher Education. 28(8), 1152–1162. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2012.07.003.
Smeets, E., Ledoux, G., Blok, H., et al., 2015. On the Threshold of Inclusive Education: Policy and Provision for Specific Educational Needs in Six Partnerships. ITS / Kohnstamm Institute: Amsterdam.
Sousa, D.A., 2022. How the Brain Learns. Available from: https://us.corwin.com/books/how-brain-learns-6e-278665 (cited 1 January 2024).
Stacie, G., 2023. Teachers Who Differentiate Instruction: A Comparative Study. Advances in Sciences and Humanities. 9(2), 58–67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20230902.17
Subban, P., 2006. Differentiated instruction: A research basis. International Education Journal. 7(7), 935-947.
Subedi, D., 2016. Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method Design as the Third Research Community of Knowledge Claim. American Journal of Educational Research. 4(7), 570–577. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12691/education-4-7-10
Suprayogi, M., Valcke, M., 2016. Differentiated Instruction in Primary Schools: Implementation and Challenges in Indonesia. Ponte Journal. 72(6), 2–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21506/j.ponte.2016.6.1.
Tobin, R., Tippett, C.D., 2014. Possibilities and potential barriers: Learning to plan for differentiated instruction in elementary science. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 12, 423–443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-013-9414-z
Tomlinson, C. A., 2001. How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Alexandria.
Tomlinson, C. A., 1999. The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Alexandria..
Tomlinson, C., 2005. Grading and Differentiation: Paradox or Good Practice? Theory into Practice, 44, 262-269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4403_11
Tomlinson, C.A., 2014. The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners. ASCD: Alexandria.
Tomlinson, C.A., 2017. How to differentiate instruction in academically diverse classrooms, 3rd ed. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: USA.
Tomlinson, J., 2015. Using Clinical Supervision to Improve the Quality and Safety of Patient Care: A Response to Berwick and Francis. BMC Medical Education, 15, 103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-015-0324-3
Van Casteren, W., Bendig-Jacobs, J., Wartenbergh-Cras, F., et al., 2017. Differentieren en differentiatievaardigheden in het primair onderwijs, 1st ed. ResearchNed: Netherlands. pp. 1–58.
Vygotsky, L.S., 1978. Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Available from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvjf9vz4 (cited 10 January 2024).
Vygotsky, L.S., 1986. Thought and language (Kozulin, A. tran., ed.). MIT Press: USA
Wan, S.W.Y., 2017. Differentiated instruction: Are Hong Kong in-service teachers ready? Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice. 23(3), 284–311. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2016.1204289
Zegwaard, K.E., Campbell, M., Pretti, T.J., 2017. Professional Identities and Ethics: The Role of Work-Integrated Learning in Developing Agentic Professionals. In: Bowen, T., Drysdale, M.T.B. (eds). Work-Integrated Learning in the 21st Century: Global Perspectives on the Future. Emerald Publishing Limited: United Kingdom. pp. 145–160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-367920170000032009
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Article Type
License
Copyright © 2024 Christine Osae, Isaak Papadopoulos
This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.