Differentiated Instruction Flashcards

A FITCO training officer discovers that several recruits are English language learners. Which differentiated strategy would be MOST effective for these recruits?

Answer: Providing visual supports, glossaries, and bilingual resources alongside standard instruction

Language scaffolds such as visual supports and glossaries help ELL recruits access content without removing rigor.

Which of the following is a key principle that DISTINGUISHES differentiated instruction from individualized instruction (one-on-one tutoring)?

Answer: Differentiated instruction manages whole-class diversity through flexible strategies rather than requiring one teacher per student

Differentiation is a classroom management and design philosophy that serves varied needs within a group setting, not one-to-one tutoring.

An instructor groups FITCO recruits by similar readiness for one activity, then regrouped them by mixed readiness for a peer-teaching activity. This is an example of:

Answer: Flexible grouping based on instructional purpose

Changing group composition based on the learning goal is the hallmark of flexible, purposeful grouping in differentiated instruction.

Which statement about 'learning contracts' as a differentiation tool is CORRECT?

Answer: Learning contracts are agreements between instructor and recruit outlining personalized learning goals, tasks, and timelines

Learning contracts provide autonomy and accountability by documenting personalized paths toward shared learning goals.

In the context of FITCO preparation, an instructor differentiates a scenario-based debrief by asking higher-order questions to some recruits and foundational recall questions to others. This addresses differences in:

Answer: Readiness

Adjusting question complexity based on what recruits are ready to handle is a readiness-based differentiation strategy.

Which of the following practices would UNDERMINE effective differentiated instruction in a correctional officer training program?

Answer: Labeling and permanently tracking recruits as 'high,' 'medium,' or 'low' ability

Permanent ability labeling contradicts differentiated instruction's core principle of flexible, growth-oriented grouping.

A FITCO training module ends with recruits choosing to present their learning either through a written report, an oral demonstration, or a visual diagram. According to differentiated instruction principles, this is differentiation by:

Answer: Product

Offering varied formats for demonstrating mastery at the end of a unit is product differentiation.