Implementing Differentiated Instruction with Teaching at The Right Level to Accommodate Student Needs

Implementing Differentiated Instruction with Teaching at The Right Level to Accommodate Student Needs

Oleh : Indar Rizky, S.Pd.

Every human being is inherently a unique individual with their own distinct characteristics. This indicates that each student is also an individual with varying characteristics. The unique characteristics possessed by each student create diversity in classroom learning. One of the diversities in the characteristics of each student is related to their learning ability. Each student in the class has different levels of ability. In general, these ability levels are categorized into three: high, medium, and low.

The diversity of students' ability levels in the classroom is a form of each student's learning needs. Teachers, as educators, mentors, and guides for students, must be able to understand the needs of their students so that learning objectives can be achieved well and evenly. Therefore, teachers need to use appropriate learning to be able to meet the learning needs of each student in the class. One learning strategy that can accommodate the fulfillment of the learning needs of each student in the class is differentiated instruction with teaching at the right level (TaRL).

Teaching at the right level (TaRL) is an approach in learning that considers the ability level of students. Learning using the teaching at the right level (TaRL) approach orients students to carry out learning in accordance with their ability level, which consists of very proficient, proficient, and needing guidance levels. This approach does not refer to the grade level of students, but rather refers to the ability level of students. This approach can be a solution to the problem of the gap in understanding that has occurred in the classroom.

The advantages of the teaching at the right level (TaRL) approach are that it can make it easier for teachers to adjust the material to the interests and abilities of students, can increase students' learning activity, help teachers in providing strong conceptual constructions to improve students' thinking skills, and increase students' self-confidence because they can solve challenging problems that are appropriate to their ability level. Thus, learning will be more meaningful and able to accommodate each student to learn according to their respective ability levels.