TEACHING DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION. DESIGNING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING SCENARIO FOR SUSTAINABILITY, ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP, AND INCLUSION

Vasiliki Ioannidi

Abstract


The present paper aims to bridge pedagogical theory and practice by examining an applied framework of differentiated instruction in Higher Education through the paradigm of a learning scenario. Specifically, it focuses on the pedagogical design of an interdisciplinary learning scenario for heterogeneous classes, aiming to enhance teacher education in the fields of special and inclusive education. The content of the scenario leverages curriculum literacies at the level of instructional practice and extends to multilingual educational environments and mixed-ability classrooms across all educational contexts. Furthermore, it analyzes the interrelationship between Sustainability, Active Citizenship, and Inclusive Education, highlighting a cross-curricular approach. Overall, the study seeks to establish a differentiated and inclusive model of educational intervention for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds, with or without disabilities, in diverse classrooms. This model is intended to serve as an applied framework for critical and creative thinking, addressed to educators of all professional specialties within both formal and non-formal educational settings. The study combines inclusive education with teachers’ professional development.

Keywords


differentiation, interdisciplinarity, learning scenario, inclusion, sustainability, citizenship, active citizenship, equitable learning environments, higher education

Full Text:

PDF

References


Beghetto R A, 2021. Creative Learning in Education. In Kern M L, & Wehmeyer M L, (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Positive Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64537-3_19

BLENDI Project, 2020. Blended learning for inclusion (BLENDI) - Guidelines (Greek version). https://www.blendedinclusion.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2020/11/BLENDI_Guidelines_greek.pdf

Computer Technology Institute and Press, n.d. Interactive school books [CTI eBooks Repository]. https://ebooksdl.cti.gr/ [In Greek]

Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, n.d. Active citizenship: Good practices. https://www.pi.ac.cy/pi/index.php?Itemid=436&id=959〈=en&option=com_content&view=article&utm_source=chatgpt.com

Elliot S N, Kratochwill T R, Littlefield Cook J, & Travers J F, 2008. Educational Psychology: Effective Teaching - Effective Learning. Gutenberg. [Ιn Greek]

EdTech.gr, n.d. Programs for All Profiles. https://edtech.gr/ [In Greek]

EPALE - Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe, n.d. Blended and integrated learning. https://epale.ec.europa.eu/el/blog/mikti-kai-olokliromeni-mathisi-mathisiaka-montela-symboyles-kai-ofeli

European Commission, n.d. European School Education Platform. https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en

Flogaiti E, Liarakou G, & Gavrilakis K, 2021. Participatory teaching and learning methods: Applications in education for the environment and sustainability. Pedio. [In Greek]

Fredagsvik M S, 2023. The challenge of supporting creativity in problem-solving projects in science: a study of teachers’ conversational practices with students. Research in Science & Technological Education, 41:1, 289-305. DOI: 10.1080/02635143.2021.1898359

Institute of Educational Policy, n.d. Sustainability & active citizenship. https://www2.iep.edu.gr/el/aeiforia-energos-politeiotita

Institute of Educational Policy, n.d. Inclusive education practices: Accessible education. https://prosvasimo.iep.edu.gr/gr/ [In Greek]

Ioannidi V, & Malafantis K D, 2023. Inclusive literacy & development of creative skills in mixed educational environments. Nea Paideia - Language, 187-188, 20-46. [In Greek]

Kauffman J M, Anastasiou D, Hornby G, Lopes J, Burke M D, Felder M, Ahrbeck B, & Wiley A, 2022. Imagining and Reimagining the Future of Special and Inclusive Education. Education Sciences, 12 (12), 903. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12120903

Kenny N, McCoy S, & O’Higgins Norman J, 2023. A Whole Education Approach to Inclusive Education: An Integrated Model to Guide Planning, Policy, and Provision. Education Sciences, 13(9), 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13090959

Kefallinou A, Symeonidou S, & Meijer C J W, 2020. Understanding the value of inclusive education and its implementation: A review of the literature. Prospects, 49, 135-152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09500-2

Lane D, Catania N, & Semon S, 2023. Progress toward Agenda 2030. A Mid Term Review of the Status of Inclusive Education in Global Texts. Series Editor: Forlin C, “International Perspectives on Inclusive Education”. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

Malisiova A, Kougioumtzis G, Tsitsas G, Koundourou C, & Mitraras A, 2023. Implementing Inclusive Education in Mixed-Ability Classrooms by Employing Differentiated Instruction. In Sofologi M, Kougioumtzis G, & Koundourou C, (Eds), Perspectives of Cognitive, Psychosocial, and Learning Difficulties From Childhood to Adulthood: Practical Counseling Strategies. IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-8203-2

Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, n.d. Digital school. https://dschool.edu.gr/ [In Greek]

Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, n.d. Digital school action: Active citizen initiative. https://act.digitalschool.gov.gr/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Papalexopoulos P, Verevi A, Skondra V, & Vavougios D, 2023. Differentiated Instruction and provisions for students with special educational needs in STEM domains Curricula for Compulsory Education. International Journal of Educational Innovation- IJEI, 5(2), 39-49. https://journal.eepek.gr/assets/uploads/issues/issueen_23_trF7MHbY0f.pdf#page=39

Schunk D H, 2009. Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective. Metaixmio. [In Greek]

Shanjuvigasini F, Swarnakumari P, & Staten B H, 2023. Addressing The Challenges of Inclusive Education and Bridging the Implementation Gap to Meet the Diverse Learning Needs. Journal of Namibian Studies, 35, S1, 1106-1120.

The Global Goals, n.d. Goal 4: Quality education. https://globalgoals.org/goals/4-quality-education/

Τomlinson C A, 2014. The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners, 2nd edition. USA: ASCD. https://books.google.gr/books?hl=en&lr=&id=CLigAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&ots=AgpqpNe7tx&sig=oUkJLKejX1qiW9--0gDCH2W4MS8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Quirke Μ, & Galvin Τ, 2025. Universal Design for Learning and the Sustainable Development Goals: Reimagining Inclusive Education – An Alice in Wonderland Journey. European Journal of Inclusive Education (EJIE), 4(1), https://doi.org/10.7146/ejie.v4i1.150454

UNESCO, 2020. Global Education Monitoring Report 2020: Inclusion and education: All means all. Paris, UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373718

United Nations, n.d. Goal 4: Quality education. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejae.v11i1.6785

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright © 2015 - 2026. European Journal of Alternative Education Studies (ISSN 2501-5915) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing GroupAll rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms.

All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).