Research Article

Addressing student diversity to improve mathematics achievement through differentiated instruction

Alvin Odon Insorio 1 2 *
More Detail
1 College of Graduate Studies and Teacher Education Research, Philippine Normal University, Manila, PHILIPPINES2 San Pedro College of Business Administration, Laguna, PHILIPPINES* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Professional Development, Learners and Learning, 6(1), January 2024, ep2406, https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/14462
Submitted: 01 November 2023, Published: 11 April 2024
OPEN ACCESS   1639 Views   1513 Downloads
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Managing student diversity is one of the issues that occur in mathematics education. Students typically achieve poorly in school if it is not appropriately addressed. Therefore, differentiated instruction (DI) strategies were used in mathematics classes to address the issue. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of DI strategies in addressing student diversity and raising mathematics proficiency levels. DI was carefully implemented in one school using the plan-do-study-act methodology. Data were gathered via test scores, questionnaires, and interviews, and professionals in the field of mathematics education verified the content validity of the said instruments. The study discovered that more incredible mathematics achievement resulted from addressing student diversity. Mathematics classes were better delivered and adapted to students’ learning styles using DI. However, mathematics teachers faced difficulties like lengthy preparation, poor classroom management, large class sizes, and a lack of resources.

CITATION (APA)

Insorio, A. O. (2024). Addressing student diversity to improve mathematics achievement through differentiated instruction. International Journal of Professional Development, Learners and Learning, 6(1), ep2406. https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/14462

REFERENCES

  1. Abdul Al-Bar, A. (2018). The effectiveness of differentiated education in the development of immediate and deferred achievement and skills to solve the mathematical problem among slowly-learning students at the primary level. Journal of Educational Mathematics, 12(21), 6-55.
  2. Aldossari, A. T. (2018). The challenges of using the differentiated instruction strategy: A case study in the general education stages in Saudi Arabia. International Education Studies, 11(4), 74-83. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v11n4p74
  3. Al-Shaboul, Y., Al-Azaizeh, M., & Al-Dosari, N. (2020). Differentiated instruction between application and constraints: Teachers’ perspective. European Journal of Educational Research, 10(1), 127-143. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.10.1.127
  4. Astaneh, B., & Masoumi, S. (2018). From paper to practice: Indexing systems and ethical standards. Science and Engineering Ethics, 24, 647-654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9899-x
  5. Balgan, A., Renchin, T., & Ojgoosh, K. (2022). An experiment in applying differentiated instruction in STEAM disciplines. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 98, 21-37.
  6. Bondie, R., & Dahnke, C. (2019). How does changing “one-size-fits-all” to differentiated instruction affect teaching? Review of Research in Education, 43, 336-362. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X18821130
  7. Candela, A. G. (2019). Exploring the function of member checking. The Qualitative Report, 24(3), 619-628. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3726
  8. Castleberry, A., & Nolen, A. (2018). Thematic analysis of qualitative research data: Is it as easy as it sounds? Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 10(6), 807-815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.03.019
  9. Chen, C. S., & Lin, J. W. (2019). A practical action research study of the impact of maker-centered STEM-PjBL on a rural middle school in Taiwan. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 17(1), 85-108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-09961-8
  10. Chen, J. H., & Chen, Y.-C. (2018). Differentiated instruction in a Calculus curriculum for college students in Taiwan. Journal of Education and Learning, 7(1), 88-95. https://doi.org/10.5539/jel.v7n1p88
  11. Department of Education. (2023). MATATAG: DepEd’s new agenda to resolve basic education woes. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2023/01/30/matatag-depeds-new-agenda-to-resolve-basic-education-woes/
  12. DepEd. (2016). DepEd Order No. 035, s. 2016. The learning action cell as a k to 12 basic education program school-based continuing professional development strategy for the improvement of teaching and learning. https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DO_s2016_035.pdf
  13. DepEd. (2019). DepEd Order No. 021, s. 2019. Policy guidelines on the K to 12 basic education program. https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/DO_s2019_021.pdf
  14. Deunk, M. I., Smale-Jacobse, A. E., de Boer, H., Doolaard, S., & Bosker, R. J. (2018). Effective differentiation practices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the cognitive effects of differentiation practices in primary education. Educational Research Review, 24, 31-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2018.02.002
  15. Dixon, F. A., Yssel, N., McConnell, J. M., & Hardin, T. (2014). Differentiated instruction, professional development, and teacher efficacy. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 37(2), 111-127. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162353214529042
  16. Gaitas, S., & Martins, M. A (2017). Teacher perceived difficulty in implementing differentiated instructional strategies in primary school. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(5), 544-556. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2016.1223180
  17. Gardener, H. (1989). Multiple intelligences go to school: Educational implications of the theory of multiple intelligence. Educational Researcher, 18(8), 4-10.
  18. Geel, M., Keuning, T., & Safar, I. (2022). How teachers develop skills for implementing differentiated instruction: Helpful and hindering factors. Teaching and Teacher Education: Leadership and Professional Development, 1, 2667-3207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tatelp.2022.100007
  19. Gervasoni, A., Downton, A., & Roche, A. (2021). Differentiating instruction for students who fail to thrive in mathematics: the impact of a constructivist-based intervention approach. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 23(3), 207-233.
  20. Gheyssens, E., Consuegra, E., Vanslambrouck, S., Engels, N., & Struyven, K. (2020). Differentiated instruction in practice: Do teachers walk the talk? Pedagogische Studi¨en [Pedagogical Studies], 97, 163-186.
  21. Goulet-Pelletier, J., & Cousineau, D. (2018). A review of effect sizes and their confidence intervals, part {I}: The Cohen’s d family. The Quantitative Methods for Psychology, 14, 242-265. https://doi.org/10.20982/tqmp.14.4.p242
  22. Grech, V., & Calleja, N. (2018). WASP (write a scientific paper): Parametric vs. non-parametric tests. Early Human Development, 123, 48-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.04.014
  23. Handa, M. (2020). Examining students’ and teachers’ perceptions of differentiated practices, student engagement, and teacher qualities. Journal of Advanced Academics, 31(4), 530-568. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202x20931457
  24. Hanusz, Z., & Tarasińska, J. (2015). Normalization of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests of normality. Biometrical Letters, 52(2), 85-93. https://doi.org/10.1515/bile-2015-0008
  25. Heacox, D. (2014). Differentiating instruction in the regular classroom: How to reach and teach all learners. Free Spirit Publishing Inc.
  26. Ismail, F. K., & Zubairi, A. M. (2022). Item objective congruence analysis for multidimensional items content validation of a reading test in Sri Lankan University. English Language Teaching, 15(1), 106-117. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v15n1p106
  27. Ismajli, H., & Imami-Morina, I. (2018). Differentiated Instruction: Understanding and applying interactive strategies to meet the needs of all the students. International Journal of Instruction, 11(3), 207-218. https://doi.org/10.12973/iji.2018.11315a
  28. Joseph, S. (2013). Differentiating instruction: Experiences of pre-service and in-service-trained teachers. Caribbean Curriculum, 20, 31-51.
  29. Kahmann, R., Droop, M., & Lazonder, A. (2022). Meta-analysis of professional development programs in differentiated instruction. International Journal of Educational Research, 116(102072), 102072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.102072
  30. Kiger, M., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE guide no. 131. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 846-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2020.1755030
  31. Lovakov, A., & Agadullina, E. (2021). Empirically derived guidelines for effect size interpretation in social psychology. European Journal of Social Psychology, 51(3), 485-504. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2752
  32. Lunsford, K. (2017). Challenges to implementing differentiated instruction in middle school classrooms with mixed skill levels [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University].
  33. Lydersen, S. (2020). Mean and standard deviation or median and quartiles? The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association, 140(9), 139. https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.20.0032
  34. Magableh, I. S. I., & Abdullah, A. (2020). On the effectiveness of differentiated instruction in the enhancement of Jordanian students’ overall achievement. International Journal of Instruction, 13(2), 533-548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2020.13237a
  35. Mainini, M., & Banes, L. (2017). Differentiating instruction to increase conceptual understanding and engagement in mathematics. The Journal of Teacher Action Research, 4(1), 81-100.
  36. Merawi, T. M. (2018). Primary school teachers’ perceptions of differentiated instruction (DI) in Awi Administrative Zone, Ethiopia. Bahir Dar Journal of Education, 18(2), 152-173.
  37. Mills, M., Monk, S., Keddie, A., Renshaw, P., Christie, P., Geelan, D., & Gowlett, C. (2014). Differentiated learning: From policy to classroom. Oxford Review of Education, 40(3), 331-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2014.911725
  38. Morgan, H. (2014). Maximizing student success with differentiated learning. The Clearing House House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 87(1), 34-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098655.2013.832130
  39. Muthomi. M., & Mbugua, Z. (2014). Effectiveness of differentiated instruction on secondary school students’ achievement in mathematics. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 4(1), 116-122.
  40. Nicolae, M. (2014). Teachers’ beliefs as the differentiated instruction starting point: Research basis. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 128, 426-431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.182
  41. Njagi, M. W. (2014). Teachers’ perspective towards differentiated instruction approach in teaching and learning mathematics in Kenya. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(13), 236-241.
  42. Ostinelli, G., & Crescentini, A. (2021). Professional development in education policy, culture and practice in teacher professional development in five European countries. A comparative analysis. Professional Development in Education, 50(1), 74-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2021.1883719
  43. Ozer, S., & Yilmaz, E. (2018). The effect of thinking-style-based differentiated instruction on achievement, attitude, and retention. Kastamonu Education Journal, 26(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.374145
  44. Pozas, M., Letzel, V., & Schneider, C. (2020). Teachers and differentiated instruction: Exploring differentiation practices to address student diversity. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 20(3), 217-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12481
  45. Prast, E. J., Weijer-Bergsma, E. V., Kroesbergen, V., & Van Luit, J. (2018). Differentiated instruction in primary mathematics: Effects of teacher professional development on student achievement. Learning and Instruction, 54, 22-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2018.01.009
  46. Rietveld, T., & van Hout, R. (2017). The paired t-test and beyond: Recommendations for testing the central tendencies of two paired samples in research on speech, language and hearing pathology. Journal of Communication Disorders, 69, 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2017.07.002
  47. Ritzema, E. S., Deunk, M. I., & Bosker, R. J. (2016). Differentiation practices in grade 2 and 3: Variations in teacher behavior in mathematics and reading comprehension lessons. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 51(2), 50-72.
  48. Sapan, M., & Mede, E. (2022). The effects of differentiated instruction (di) on achievement, motivation, and autonomy among English learners. Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research, 10(1), 127-144. https://doi.org/10.30466/ijltr.2022.121125
  49. Sayi, K. A., & Emir, S. (2017). The effects of differentiated foreign language instruction on academic achievement and creativity of gifted students. International Journal of Academic Research, 5(1), 276-288.
  50. Siam, K., & Al-Natour, M. (2016). Teacher’s differentiated instruction practices and implementation challenges for learning disabilities in Jordan. International Education Studies, 9(12), 167-181. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v9n12p167
  51. Smale-Jacobse, A., Meijer, A., Helms-Lorenz, M., & Maulana, R. (2019). Differentiated instruction in secondary education: A systematic review of research evidence. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 23-66. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02366
  52. Smets, W. (2017). High-quality differentiated instruction–A checklist for teacher professional development on handling differences in the general education classroom. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 5(11), 2074-2080. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2017.051124
  53. Sprott, R. A. (2019). Factors that foster and deter advanced teachers’ professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 77, 321-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2018.11.001
  54. Stockemer, D. (2019). Quantitative methods for the social sciences a practical introduction with examples in SPSS and Stata. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99118-4
  55. Suprayogi, M. N., & Valcke, M. (2016). Differentiated instruction in primary schools: Implementation and challenges in Indonesia. PONTE, 72(6), 2-18. https://doi.org/10.21506/j.ponte.2016.6.1
  56. Suprayogi, M. N., Valcke, M., & Godwin, R. (2017). Teachers and their implementation of differentiated instruction in the classroom. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 291-301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.06.020
  57. Taylor, M. J., McNicholas, C., Nicolay, C., Darzi, A., Bell, D., & Reed, J. E. (2014). Systematic review of the application of the plan-do-study-act method to improve quality in healthcare. BMJ Quality & Safety, 23(4), 290-298. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2013-001862
  58. Tomlinson, C. A. (2014). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of all learners. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
  59. Tomlinson, C., & Imbeau, M. (2023). Leading and managing a differentiated classroom. ASCD.
  60. Utama, G. (n. d.). Differentiated instruction in mathematics learning. Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization.
  61. Valiandes, S., & Neophytou, L. (2018). Teachers’ professional development for differentiated instruction in mixed-ability classrooms: Investigating the impact of a development program on teachers’ professional learning and students’ achievement. Teacher Development, 22(1), 123-138. https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2017.1338196
  62. van Geel, M., Keuning, T., Frèrejean, J., Van Merriënboer, J., Dolmans, D., & Visscher, A. J. (2019). Capturing the complexity of differentiated instruction. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 30(1). 51-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2018.1539013
  63. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
  64. Wilujeng, N. C. S. (2012). The differentiated instruction and its implementation for developing countries: Partnership students learning Indonesian language in bridging course program. Journal of Education, 5(1), 49-52. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICEELI.2012.6360659