Differentiating
With Learning Playlists
What is a learning playlist?
A learning playlist is a series of digital videos, assignments, quizzes, games, activities, and websites that students work through at their own pace. Students have some choice in the order they complete the activities, or can choose specific items from the list to complete. Like a music playlist, learning playlists often have a theme. They can cover a particular standard, or a topic within a standard.
How do I get started?
First, you’ll need to decide on a theme for your playlists. As mentioned above, the playlists might be based on one particular standard and have varying levels of difficulty, or they could be based on topics within a standard. Next, you will need to rethink your assessments. When using playlists, it helps to assess more formatively and more often than with traditional teaching. Finally, you’ll need to choose a way to distribute the playlists to students. This could be as simple as printing off checklists on paper for students, but a digital method will make things simpler. In Google Classroom, different Google Docs with lists could be assigned to the differentiated groups of students. Another option is to make a website students will access. A third choice is the website TES Teach with Blendspace, which allows teachers to create digital lessons with the links students will need in one place. There are many possibilities for creating learning playlists for students - choose one that will be easy to maintain and works well with your district’s technology.
What are the benefits?
Playlists offer a very easy way to differentiate content. After teaching a standard, a formative assessment might be given to students. Based on the results, the teacher could sort her class into three groups - students who need reteaching, reinforcement of the content, or enrichment. A learning playlist could then be assigned to each group, which would meet their individual needs. Playlists are often very motivating for students because they have a degree of control over their learning. They can also offer an appropriate challenge for students in a class of varying abilities. Learning playlists are a natural fit during center time, small group lessons, or during an academic assist period. While creating a playlist can be a lot of work up front, once completed, they are easy to implement and can be used year after year.