Differentiate Instruction with Google Docs

Google Docs offers so many options for educators to differentiate instruction. We know that one size doesn’t fit all in education; therefore, it’s crucial that we give each of our learners different ways to acquire content, process ideas, and demonstrate their understanding. Let’s explore ways in which Google Docs can help support a differentiated classroom.

Allow for Choice

• This sample Geology Choice Board – This sample Geology choice board is a form of differentiated learning that provides multiple learning options for students. If you want to know how to create a choice board, check out the Creating a Choice Board for your Classroom blog entry.
• Choose Your Own Adventure – Choose Your Own Adventure is a great way to allow for choice and differentiate for the multiple skill levels of your students. In this blog entry, Eric Curts explains how to create a Choose Your Own Adventure story with Google Docs.
• RAFT Assignment – This RAFT Assignment Google Doc is a great way to incorporate choice into the classroom. The RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic) strategy can serve as a motivator by giving students a choice, appealing to their interest and learning profiles, and adapting to student’s readiness levels.

Give Extra Help

• Hint Cards– You might have some students who need an extra hint on class work. Hint cards can be created in Google Docs and shared with either individual students or groups of students. Another great thing about hint cards is that they can also be used as an anchor activity for other students who create the hints, rather than the teacher.
• Task Cards – In a differentiated classroom, students may work on varied versions of the same task or even on different tasks during the same length of time. Task cards are an effective means of giving directions to individuals or groups with varied work. Read the Differentiation with Google Digital Task Cards blog entry for more ways to create task cards with Google.
• Weekly Assignment Sheet – Assignments in your classroom may vary by student. Therefore, creating individual or group weekly assignments sheets is a good way to differentiate. These assignment sheets can be created in Google Docs and then shared.

Offer Various Assessments

• Choice Boards– Choice boards can also be used for assessment near the completion of a unit. Students get a sense of ownership when they are allowed to choose. Further, they become more engaged with an assessment when they know that they’ve picked it themselves. The fact that they chose it reflects their interest, and it also places them in a mindset of success.
• Lesson Reflection – Exit tickets are a great way to see if your students understood the lesson. This allows students to reflect about how they felt about the unit.

As you can see, Google Docs is a great way to differentiate in the classroom. If you have additional ideas for differentiating, please share those in the comments below.