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Differentiated Education Using Technology in Junior and High School Classrooms

This entry presents the findings of a bibliographic review in Differentiated Instruction (DI), emphasizing its importance in classrooms with diverse student abilities. DI encourages teachers to adjust their instructional methods based on students’ learning profiles and needs. It has been identified as a crucial strategy for fostering inclusion and equal opportunities in education. Overall, the document underscores the importance of DI in fostering personalized learning and equal opportunities, especially in diverse classrooms. It also highlights ongoing challenges, such as teacher preparation, time constraints, and the need for the effective use of technology and data.

differentiated instruction (DI) inclusive education heterogeneous classrooms digital tools in education data-driven decision making (DDDM) Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
In contemporary Greek society, it is an undeniable right of everyone to have access—both physical and digital—to all areas and services. The current Greek system must support the education of today’s learners and future citizens by ensuring they use accessibility tools effectively, while also cultivating empathy to facilitate easier access for all (inclusive education). The role of the modern teacher or philosopher must evolve to align with this shift. Educators require resources that motivate and connect with their students. The newly developed curricula appear to offer a foundational tool, enabling structured material and the application of differentiated teaching methods. This entry follows an integrative literature review approach. Articles were selected from databases, such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ERIC, using predefined keywords. Selection criteria included peer-reviewed status, relevance to DI, and publication within the last ten years.
For DI to be implemented, the necessary technological support is required, allowing secondary education teachers to apply it both in the production of material and in teaching. Additionally, students themselves must be able to use, apply, and create with these tools. DI is a pedagogical approach designed to respond to student diversity by adapting the content, process, product, and learning environment [1].
DI is more than just an innovative teaching approach; it is a pedagogical theory rooted in the principles of inclusion and equity. Kakana [2] described DI as a flexible framework that enables teachers to adapt instruction to students’ diverse needs, ensuring that “one size does not fit all” [2]. DI promotes equal educational opportunities, fostering student success without discrimination. Tomlinson [3] emphasized that DI involves systematic lesson planning to address students’ varying readiness levels, allowing them to achieve their full potential. It is a proactive approach that aligns with social justice values.
DI emphasizes flexible teaching methods to address students’ varying levels of readiness, interests, and learning profiles. For example, a teacher may use tiered assignments to accommodate different skill levels within the same classroom. The purpose of this entry is to analyze how DI has been conceptualized and implemented in various educational settings [4].

References

  1. Valiantí, S.; Neofytou, L. Differentiated Teaching: Functional and Effective Implementation; Pedio: Athens, Greece, 2017.
  2. Kakana, D. Differentiated instruction: From research to practice-Introductory note. Dialogoi Theory Pract. Educ. Sci. 2020, 6, 5.
  3. Tomlinson, C.A. The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners; Grigoris: Athens, Greece, 2010.
  4. Filippatou, D.; Kaldi, S. Perceptions of secondary education teachers concerning differentiation of instruction in Greek. Int. J. Educ. Res. Rev. 2018, 3, 54–62.
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Online Date: 10 Jun 2025
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