Differentiated instruction (DI) is a complex conceptual model and philosophy that is implemented in many traditional classroom settings. The primary focus of DI is to personalize the learning process by taking into account individual differences among students' varied levels of readiness, interest and learning profile. Varied assessments are used…

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), in collaboration with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the Association for the Gifted (CEC-TAG), has developed national standards for teacher preparation programs in gifted and talented education. Typically, these programs are at the masters level, but they may also be endorsement…

The need has arise for the consideration of individual differences, to include their learning styles, learning orientations, preferences and needs in learning to allow learners engage and be responsible for their own learning, retain information longer, apply the knowledge more effectively, have positive attitudes towards the subject, have more…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential classroom structure and efficacy reported by general and special educators at the elementary and secondary level. General and special educators (n = 774, return rate of 37%) from a large school district in the southeast US participated in the study. The participants completed a modified…

We examine the argument that teaching will be more effective if adapted to individuals--what we call the interaction/adaptation hypothesis. What is likely correct about this hypothesis (but needs more research) is that modality of instruction may need to be adapted to certain types of content (e.g., geometry vs. literature) or to domain of…

The idea of a personal style in learning has grown during the past decade to dominate teacher discourse in the UK. The theory supporting this idea is work in understanding cognitive and learning style. A recent review of learning styles for the Learning and Skills Development Agency in the UK has been widely publicised and is deeply critical of…

Shannon E. Coulter and Susan L. Groenke recognize that student differences in interests, learning styles, and readiness for certain knowledge necessitate individualized processes for effectively learning vocabulary. They offer strategies and word games that help students make meaningful connections and improve comprehension. They also give advice…

This study examined learning styles in 137 high ability fourth-grade students. All students were administered two learning styles inventories. Characteristics of students with the following learning styles are summarized: auditory language, visual language, auditory numerical, visual numerical, tactile concrete, individual learning, group…

Describes formal and informal techniques used to evaluate young children's cognitive style for the purpose of individualizing instruction. Topics include controlled laboratory procedures, paper and pencil tests, classroom assessments, and individualization in educational programs. (RJC)

There is a current trend toward matching the style of teaching with the cognitive style of the individual student. (JD)

Children's learning preferences sometimes appear to be unique and specific to their cultural groups. (MM)

Based on the theory of multiple intelligences, this guide is designed for teachers as they assist students through a progression from understanding multiple intelligences and their own intelligence strengths to developing strategies to set clear educational goals, discover their passions, and develop self-advocacy. The guide's units, each of which…

This report summarizes a number of exploratory and pilot studies undertaken to investigate the relationship of individual differences among college mathematics students to discovery and expository instruction, and to Personalized Systems of Instruction (PSI). Research in education has often attempted to demonstrate the superiority of one type of…

Florida's individualized competency-based vocational education program stresses variety in learning experiences to accommodate individual student differences in learning. The author describes sequence of instruction and techniques to help the teacher facilitate learning. (MF)

This paper proposes that mild learning disability may often be more the result of teaching which ignores individual differences in learning style than the result of psychological processing and/or central nervous system disorders that are characteristic of true learning disabilities. A brief overview of learning disability identification explains…