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Differentiated Instruction
Tommie Salas
AET/525
February 10, 2014
Devin Andrews
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Differentiated Instruction
To complete the required assignment for week five I chose to use a training plan I
completed in the AET/520 course. The training plan chosen for this assignment teaches
employees to work in learning teams by teaching them to use at least two team building skills
and to complete a learning team project successfully. This paper will suggest modifications to
the existing training plan in the following areas: the content to be learned, the instruction
strategies used to teach the required content, the end product used to demonstrate master of the
required content, and the environment to accommodate varied learning styles.
Differentiating the content to be learned
The training plans purpose of content is to teach employees to learn at least two different
learning team skills and to complete a team project successfully (T.M. Salas, personal
communication, December 22, 2013). To differentiate the content to be learned during the
training, I could recommend the employees learn different learning team roles. And second, the
employees could learn different personality traits and those traits affect a learning team. By
differentiating the content to be learned by teaching the employees how different learning team
roles and different personality traits affect a learning team, the employees should be able to
identify the roles of each team member and how different personality traits will affect the team.
Roles in a learning team will include a leader, those employees who provide creativity,
employees that are great writers, editors, organizers. Learning different personality traits is a bit
difficult in a team environment. Being a leader in a team may be considered a skill; however, it
is also a personality trait. Some individuals are great leaders and have the ability to pull the best
out of individuals and use their best skill sets. Furthermore, leaders are able to control or prevent
conflict and use great communication skills. More personality traits include individuals that like
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to work alone, even when working in a team and those individuals that like to provide great
feedback.
Varying or altering the instruction strategies used to teach the required content
The instructional strategy in the selected training plan states the employees will find
similarities and differences in their team by participating in an ice breaker activity (T.M. Salas,
personal communication, December 22, 2013). To change up the instructional strategies used in
the training a more in depth activity could be put in its place. For the reason that ice breaker
activities are so important for adult learners, I think it would be imperative to provide at least one
if not more than one activities that help the employees learn one another. The learning activity
could be changed to one that allows students to learn more than similarities and differences, the
learning activity should include information that provides important information like learning
style, cultural background, and educational and work background. Learning activities may be
found on the internet to implement during the training.
The second alteration to the training plan would include student instruction. The original

training plan relied on direct instruction, indirect instruction, and collaborative strategies. I
would suggest the employees participate in the instructional strategy by presenting group
presentations on research they have discovered in groups. I think it is always a good idea to
include student instruction to a training plan to include all the employees ideas and make them
feel that their ideas are heard.
Varying the end product used to demonstrate mastery of the required content
The end product of the training plan is to complete a team group assignment as a team (
T.M. Salas, personal communication, December 22, 2013). Differentiating the end product in
this training plan will involve the way the team project is compiled. Instead of placing the
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employees in teams to complete the project together from start to finish. The employees will be
asked to complete a project individually and then come together as a team and try to incorporate
all team members information into one project.
The second alteration to the training plan will include the employees being able to
identify at least two different team member learning styles and at least one team member
personality. In the original training plan employees were asked to identify at least two
different team member skills ( T.M. Salas, personal communication, December 22, 2013).
Varying or altering the environment to accommodate varied learning styles
I think this topic is the most difficult to alter compared to the other categories. The
environment currently takes place at work in a training room. To alter the environment I will
need to keep my mind open and be creative. One way to alter the learning environment I could
assign the learning teams to work on their student presentations in an area different from the
training room. The employees could use the lunch room or their offices. Another way to
differentiate the environment is closely related to altering the end product. For the reason that
the employees will now be required to work on a project independently and then come together
to incorporate all the information into one project, the environment will be different due to
working independently for the first half of the project.
Discuss how you think each recommended modification facilitates and engages adult
learners
The alterations made to the content to be learned includes, learning at least two different
team roles and at least one team personality trait. Learning team roles and personality traits
facilitates and engages adult learners by giving them the knowledge they need to work
productively in a team environment at work. Learning other individuals roles and personality
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traits makes it possible for adult learners to assess how they will fit into a team and also help
them assess how the other team members will fit into the team. Organizations are moving
toward team work as fast as the education industry. To move up and ultimately stay with an
organization it is imperative to be able to work in a team. Learning how you can contribute to a
team and how others will contribute to a team environment are great skills to have especially
when you are expected to work with your co-workers.
Alterations to teach the required content includes, implementing an in-depth learning
activity to help the employees learn the individuals they are working with and implementing
student instruction. Providing the opportunity for the adult learners to gain information about
each other provided the opportunity for individuals to connect with each other. Once people
have the opportunity to learn more than what we see on the outside of a person it gives us the
knowledge to use that persons skills and strong points. By providing an activity that allows
people to get to know each other on a higher level, it engages the learners because they are also
able to tell others what is unique and different about themselves. Implementing student
instruction allows the learners to feel heard and validated. The students are able to present what
they feel is important and student instruction is sometimes easily understood by other students.
The end product is varied by requiring an individual project and by learning different
traits and personalities. These recommended modifications facilitates and engages adult learners
by showing them the difference between working independently and working in a team to
complete a project. Learning to identify team roles and independent personalities provides
facilitation and engagement by placing the students in groups to communicate the outcomes.
Altering the environment includes using different locations to complete activities and by
requiring employees to work independently on a project. This modification facilitates and
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engages adult learners by providing a comfortable environment where learning can take place.
Allowing employees to work independently and then in teams allows the employees to see the
differences in working alone and with people.
The training plan used for teaching employees to work in teams has been differentiated to
meet the requirements of this assignment. Two modifications made to the content to be learned
include, identifying team roles and personality traits. Two modifications made to the instruction
strategies include, a learning team activity and student instruction. Two modifications made to
the end product include requiring the completion of an individual project and to identify team
roles and personality traits. Two modifications made to accommodate the environment include,
allowing learners to choose where they work on activities and allowing learners to work
independently. Each recommended modification provides facilitation and engages adult learners
by providing information and experience working with teams.











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Reference
University of Phoenix. (2013). Instructional Module/Training Plan Template. Retrieved from
University of Phoenix, AET520 website.