Methods and Practices for Assessing the Effectiveness of Differentiated Instruction Within Higher Education

Abstract

This paper discusses several methods and practices being applied in determining the effectiveness of Differentiated instruction in colleges and universities. Differentiated instruction is a teaching approach that involves changing the way learning is delivered to respond to the diverse needs of the students in terms of learning style and ability. Success of the methods should, therefore, be benchmarked through a multi-dimensional assessment approach, establishing clear instructional objectives, using formative assessments, and leveraging data analytics in monitoring performance at the student level. This information from the students and teachers contributes to knowledge of specific ways various instructional strategies are impacting engagement and learning outcomes. Results from this study indicate that such sustained impacts can be observed only with long-term follow-up; simultaneously, technological tools can play a facilitative role in personalized learning. These approaches together can potentially push the universities toward the optimization of Differentiated instruction, given that both methods create more quality settings for education and inspire student success.