In this post-COVID era, where students have experienced varied levels of engagement and comprehension, differentiated instruction has become a powerful and popular tool to ensure students will thrive academically. As educators continue to cater to diverse learning styles, many are using classroom games as a fun and effective way to differentiate instruction in their classrooms.

What is Differentiated Instruction?

Differentiated instruction is a technique that accommodates the learning style, readiness, and interests of every student. It typically involves using various instructional methods to convey identical information to students depending on their learning style. The primary objective of differentiated instruction is to ensure that all students are engaged in the learning process by providing tasks that align with each student’s specific needs.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a more personalized approach to learning has gained popularity more so than the traditional one-size-fits-all approach that is typically been used in classrooms. This may be due to the extended period using remote or hybrid learning, which showed educators needed to be more flexible and adaptable to the needs of students.

Why Games are an Effective Way to Differentiate Instruction

There are several ways teachers can differentiate instruction, including flexible grouping, learning centers, tiered assignments, or providing students with a selection of activities to choose from. Although these methods can be engaging for students, integrating classroom games can be a more dynamic and interactive way to engage students using differentiated learning. Here are a few reasons why using classroom games can be an effective approach.

Collaborative Learning Opportunity

Games often encourage students to work together, fostering teamwork and building classroom community. This cooperative learning opportunity allows students with different strengths to contribute their unique strengths and skills based on their abilities.

Caters to Different Learning Styles

Games are inclusive and can cater to different learning styles. Whether a student prefers verbal interaction or a hands-on activity, games can accommodate different learning styles and modalities.

Reinforces Skills

Games offer students an opportunity to practice and reinforce specific skills. By playing games, students strengthen these skills, ensuring that they grasp the information through repetition. This is especially beneficial for any student who needs additional practice, a deeper understanding of a subject, or those who need to be challenged because they grasp concepts very quickly.

Varied Levels of Complexity

Many games offer diverse difficulty levels, making it easy for students to select levels based on their current skill set. This can empower students to tailor their learning experience as well as foster a personalized learning experience.

Intrinsic Motivator

Games tap into the internal motivation of students, where their natural curiosity and competitiveness to achieve and win lies. The element of competition or the desire to outperform their classmates can create an engaging and motivating learning experience for students.

How to Differentiate Instruction Using Classroom Games

Using classroom games can be an effective way to meet the diverse learning needs of your students. Here are a few tips to help differentiate instruction using classroom games.

Modify Rules

Adapt the rules of the game to meet the needs of all students. You can do this by creating varied levels of difficulty. For example, if playing a math game, you can adjust the complexity of the problems to suit the varying skill levels of each student. If playing a science game on biology, you can customize the questions to cover different branches of biology allowing students to choose which branch they want to focus on. You can do the same thing for a geography quiz or historical events.

Allow Game Choice

Offering a selection of games or allowing students full autonomy not only will align them with the games that pique their interest but will also help to foster a sense of ownership over students’ learning. In addition, it can help them stay motivated and engaged in the learning process. For example, let’s say students were learning about the solar system. One game option can be a trivia challenge for more advanced learners, another can be a board game about planet facts, and another can be a hands-on game that reinforces concepts.

Rotate Game Stations

Rotating stations is an effective strategy to differentiate instruction using classroom games. This approach allows you to address diverse learning styles and cater to individual preferences. For example, different stations can focus on specific skills or concepts allowing students to move from station to station based on their needs. This will also ensure you’re appealing to all learning preferences.

Try Flexible Grouping

Flexible grouping allows you to tailor learning experiences based on the abilities of individual students. When you form groups based on varying levels of ability, style, and interest, you can cater to specific groups. This approach ensures that each student receives targeted instruction that maximizes their learning experience as well as challenges them. Additionally, peer collaboration is an added benefit where students can play off one another’s strengths.

Incorporate Reflection and Feedback

Embedding reflection during gameplay can be an effective strategy. Pre-game reflection can be a good starting point and help to set the stage for students’ current standing of information while post-game reflection can help students gain a deeper understanding of the game and what they’ve learned. Peer feedback can also be an effective way to enhance learning because it helps to create a supportive learning environment where students learn from one another and can share different strategies.

By incorporating differentiated instruction through classroom games, you are meeting all students’ diverse needs and creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment. Facilitating interactive games can also help to instill a love for learning that goes far beyond the classroom.

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Why it’s Important to Know Your Students’ Learning Styles

A proactive teacher will start each year armed with plans and strategies that have proven effectiveness. Having a bank of resources is crucial during the thick of the year when time (and indubitably patience) are running thin. This practice is built on the premise that you know what students need to learn in order to be successful, but what happens when you exhaust your bag of tricks and students still cannot write a well-structured essay or multiply 3-digit numbers? A year of blind trial and error is a year wasted, and therefore knowing your students’ learning styles is critical.

When you know how your students learn best, you can easily identify the root of the issue when they aren’t grasping a concept. You have clear direction when choosing strategies – for example: a rap about figurative language is fun but may not be helpful for your visual learners. When you don’t understand your students’ learning styles, planning will always be a shot in the dark.

When education is on the line, uninformed instruction is not a gamble that we should be willing to take. Teachers should gather data about student learning styles early and consistently. This can be done through learning profiles, observations, and more. Don’t wait until a roadblock manifests to gain understanding of the learners in your classroom. The timing will likely be too late.

Types of Learners

Learners are typically pigeonholed into three categories: visual, auditory, and tactile. Furthermore, a true assessment of education as we know it will show that of the three, our visual and auditory learners receive the most instruction that is relevant to their style. There are, however, multiple learning styles that grace our classrooms. Here are some different types of learners along with information about how to accommodate them in the classroom.

Visual

Our classrooms are typically oversaturated with aids for the visual learners. As the name suggests, these learners retain information by seeing. Things like anchor charts, diagrams, number lines, and word walls are effective for visual learners. Visual learners also retain information that is modeled for them.

Auditory

Auditory learners learn best through hearing. Although these students have an advantage in lectures, there are many, more inventive ways to engage auditory learners. Creating mnemonics, reading information aloud, peer teaching, and incorporating non-obtrusive music (i.e. classical) are ways to cater to auditory learners. Because auditory learners naturally gravitate to sound, they are also easily distracted by excess noise in the classroom.

Linguistic

These learners are often confused for auditory learners. While the auditory learner learns best by hearing, a linguistic learner learns by expression and articulation. These students are typically strong writers and orators. They need time and space to think out loud and on paper. One way to engage linguistic learners is to always have instructions written down. Picturesque charts are useful, but know that your linguistic learners are typically looking for words that tell your expectations. Word problems for mathematical operations, writing to explain scientific concepts, and cloze assignments are all effective for these learners.

Kinesthetic

Also known as tactile learners, kinesthetic learners retain information through action. These students need to learn by physically doing things. Movement and creating things manually are winners for our kinesthetic learners. Activities such as gallery walks that allow students to move about the classroom are helpful. Flexible seating options that allow students to work while standing, laying down, etc. are also helpful. Products like fidget cubes and Bouncy Bands are great ways for kinesthetic learners to discreetly maintain movement while working.

Logical/Mathematical

These are our learners who excel in math but dislike the ambiguity of literary analysis. They learn through methodical logic and love the absolute quality of numbers. Logical learners thrive when structure is abundant and may struggle with creative projects. In order to accommodate these students, provide rubrics and/or checklists with clear expectations. Make goals measurable and provide them with the information and tools necessary to self-monitor progress. Sequencing activities, technology, and building projects are a great fit for these students.

Interpersonal

That student who consistently follows up your instructions with a timely request to work in groups is likely an interpersonal learner. These students thrive during collaborative work because communication is the key to their comprehension. Group work is obviously their strength, but we all know that some assignments must be completed individually. Allowing interpersonal learners to work with others during the planning stages of an individual assignment will go a long way. Activities like think-pair-share, literature circles, and team-building activities also work well with interpersonal learners.

Intrapersonal

The exact opposite of their interpersonal counterparts, intrapersonal learners thrive when working alone. These are the students who, when self-aware, will request to work alone on group projects. Allowing these students to have independent study time and a quiet, secluded workspace are extremely helpful. They do well with self-directed research, so providing resources for them to study independently will be beneficial. When intrapersonal learners must work collaboratively, providing defined roles will help them to identify their best-suited role and work accordingly.

Knowing your student’ learning styles is crucial to helping them reach their potential. This requires flexibility and engagement in a constant learning curve. The most effective classrooms are those tailored to the specific needs of the students they house.

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