Catering for learner diversity  (Janet)

Observations in Hong Kong

Catering for learner diversity is a challenging topic for a lot of teachers in Hong Kong. 

Inquiry points derived

s   How are learners’ diverse needs catered for?

Observations

s  To cater for diverse abilities

•        System level

To allow schools to flexibly offer student-centred courses that can help the weaker students and SEN students to narrow the gaps between their attainment and the expectations in the proficient levels by focusing on confidence building and motivation and targeted lifeskills

Extract of course description for learning strategies course

at secondary level

Source : The Ontario Curriculum

•        School board level

Certain strategies for catering for learner diversity are highlighted by the school board for schools’ reference, e.g. #1, 3 and 10

Source : Lester B. Pearson High School

•        School practice

Learning strategies courses are run for weak and SEN students with the use of ICT to give them extra help to meet expectations in the learning strategies courses

Students are required in the alternative curriculum to master basic literacy skills, e.g. to give more details to support writing.  The teacher in this learning strategy course used the interactive whiteboard and effective questioning to guide students to pick up details in the photo and verbally construct a description of the photo.  This was done to equip them with the skills to produce a descriptive writing which was a requirement in level 10 literacy assessment.

        Source : Lester B. Pearson High School

s  To cater for diverse interests

•    Students’ choices are well-respected in the learning process

Example ONE

Students are given a choice to work at their favourite work stations

in a reading lesson

Source : Chris Hadfield Public School

Example TWO

Students are encouraged to choose their favourite Word Work Activities

to build their vocabulary bank

Example 1 – Word Art

Source : Chris Hadfield Public School

Example 2 – Coded Fun

Source : Chris Hadfield Public School

Example THREE

Differentiation strategies from the school board that focus on

catering for different learning styles

Source : Lester B. Pearson High School

s  To cater for both diverse interests and abilities

Example ONE

Choice for students in a reading task in a reading lesson

Source : Chris Hadfield Public School

Example TWO

Students are encouraged to enroll in courses that suit

both their interests and abilities during grades 9 and 10

Source : Lester B. Pearson High School

s  To make teaching and learning student-centred

Suggestions on next steps which are based on students’ attainment, strengths and weaknesses are provided for students in the diploma certificate.

Source : Education Quality and Accountability Office