This 4-week course will offer participants a deep-dive into the instructional framework of Differentiated Instruction and its application in arts learning environments. Differentiated Instruction practices will be applied to standards-aligned arts instruction (“in” the arts) as well as to arts-integrated settings that meet both arts and academic content standards (“through” the arts). Differentiated Instruction In and Through the Arts will require active participation but has been built to invite that engagement through learner choices that differentiate based on professional settings, readiness for advanced content, and learning styles.

Essential Questions

Throughout this course, we will consider:

1. How does the framework of Differentiated Instruction support arts, general, and special educators in their efforts to meaningfully engage students with disabilities in standards-aligned instruction? What is the evidence that supports Differentiated Instruction?

2. What are ways to leverage the practices of responding to student interest, readiness, and learning styles to differentiate arts learning goals, arts instruction, arts projects, and the classroom environment?

3. How might Arts Integration offer arts, general, and special educators additional tools and supports to leverage when differentiating instruction?

4. How do the aligned frameworks of Arts Integration and Differentiated Instruction work together to expand learning opportunities for students with disabilities in arts-based and arts-integrated settings?

Participants who satisfy all course requirements will receive a letter of completion from the Kennedy Center as evidence of 20 hours of professional development.