Reflection+on+'Differentiated+Learning'+by+Burcu+Güner

**BY BURCU GÜNER ** The first session in 7th Foreign Language Teachers’ Conference was presented by Dr. Annamaria Pinter. The title of the session was “Differentiated learning- links with autonomy and learning strategies.” In the session, speaking and writing language skills are involved through speaking and writing activities. The aim of the session was to make Pinter’s own understanding of differentiated learning clear. Also, Pinter linked differentiated learning to learning strategies and learner autonomy. In order to achive her aim, Pinter firstly described differentiation and explained the reason why it is important in learning process. Then, Pinter explained learning strategies to take in groups, and linked them to learner autonomy. After Pinter had explained what autonomy means, she showed the autonomy cycle for better understanding of the process. In the last part of the session, Pinter explained how we can apply differentiation into learning process through sample activities. The activities was providing choice and variation for the students. That’s why, a teacher has a chance to increase motivation in a lesson using these activities. Actually, differentiation was a concept I have learned for the first time. Although I know that a teacher should pay attention to different different levels of competence, interests, needs, personalities, and learning styles, I have heard for the first time that this description is called as differentiation. In differentiation session, Pinter highlighted three main concepts; differentiated learning, learning strategies, and learner autonomy. Through this session, I learned how to link differentiation to learning strategies and learner autonomy, and the activities appropriate for better learning environments. I think that these activities can be done with all age groups in elementary or pre-intermediate levels. Also, these activities can be applied to our English classes in Turkey easily. I found the session very useful for the teachers giving importance differences of the students. In that point, the session completely fulfilled my expectations. Also, the session provides ideas how to deal with differences and create learner autonomy via learning strategies in order to create motivated learning environment. In short, the importance of choice and variation was expressed very well during the session by Dr. Annamaria Pinter. So, motivation and better awareness are inevitable in a learning environment in which differentiated learning and learner autonomy are applied.
 * REFLECTION ON ELT CONFERENCE “DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING” **

//FERUZE İLKATMIŞ// //Firstly I want to thank Burcu for this detailed and comprehensive reflection paper. // //I have known the terms that defining differentiation like different interest, learning styles and different linguistic level but I also have learned the concept of differentiation for the first time. Dr. Annamaria Pinter explained differentiation with a lot of examples and she stated that teacher's role is the key during teaching. According to her teachers should place emphasis on following issues: task with change, working at students' individual level, learning from others and focusing on students' learning needs and she showed these techniques with examples and activities. Choice motivation and autonomy circle are other concepts that she mentioned and exemplified in the session. Giving students opportunity to choosing activities, tasks or subjects enables them to be closely involved in lessons. // //Being applicable for all linguistic and age levels, differentiation is an important concept that every teacher should use in class. I think differentiation enables more social interaction and communication in classroom. // //This session was full of new information and it was entertaining for me. Example oriented session help me understand new concepts easily. Differentiation helps me contribute to my understanding of the teaching-learning process and methodology knowledge. Lastly, I will use differentiation in my classes when teaching because of the fact that its benefits on teaching. //

//Saniye DEMİRTAŞ // //Actually Burcu summarized all the thing about the session very well. Yes, I have heard about the differantiative learning for the first time, too. In that way, I am completely agree with Burcu that it is very useful to perform in the class since it hepls to know about the students' qualities. // //Differantiative learning, since it regards each student as individual and independent beings, contributes the lesson a lot. It creates freedom in the classroom environment. // //Another original idea was learner autonomy, which gives weight individual's taking responsibility of their own learning.Giving students the freedom of choice in activities improves them not only in terms of learning better since it lowers the effective filter but also it contributes the self-esteem development of students. // //Not as a disagreement but a little suggestion, we may not be able to use this technique in each and every classroom; it may need some changes and little modifications since every classroom atmosphere is unique.// <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">//To sum up, Mrs. Pinter has really innovative ideas about learning and teaching; at least she is looking from students' side rather than teachers' side.//

//Suna TOPUZ// //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Firstly thank you Burcu for your clear reflection. // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> I gained general information about differentiation and the session through your clear reflection. I do not agree with you in that the session completely fulfilled the expectations. I expected that the presenter was going to provide us with more examples about differentiation’s application to the lessons because giving examples would help us comprehend the topic more easily. She should serve more examples so that there is no question mark in the audience’s mind. But I think that the presentation was very beneficial for the teachers who consider the differences of the students while choosing the activities and tasks as you emphasized too. As a future teacher, this session was necessary for us in terms of learning some teaching strategies. Besides, I share the same idea with you on the importance of learner autonomy but my mind is not clear about its application in all lessons. //