D KAT 04 · Provide
Differentiation
What this KAT is for
Reach for this when one task, one mode, one pace will not serve all the learners in front of you. Technology lets you differentiate by content (what they engage with), process (how they engage), or product (how they show what they know) — without the prep cost of running three separate lessons.
Familiar examples: a P4 Chinese Language class where one boy is reading at P2 level and another is reading novels at P6 level; a P3 Math class where half the room is still working out times tables and half is ready to tackle long division; a Science class where one student processes diagrams instantly but freezes at written text, while his neighbour is the reverse. Differentiation is about making the same high outcome reachable by different paths.
MOE defintion:
Allow teachers to harness the interactivity and multimodal features of digital tools to differentiate the nature of content, processes and products of learning to meet the needs of all students.
How to choose a tool for Differentiation
Not every "choose your own activity" is true Differentiation. Choice for its own sake can be exhausting; tiered work that lowers the ceiling is unfair. To do real D work, the tool needs to do at least one of these three things:
1 Signal 01 · Same goal, different path
Tier the route, not the destination
Every student aims for the same learning outcome. The difference is the support, the medium, or the entry point — never the ambition.
2 Signal 02 · Adjustable on the fly
Switch supports without restarting
A student who flicks pinyin on or off, or moves from Tier 1 to Tier 2 mid-task, gets exactly what they need at that moment. Locked-in choices defeat the purpose.
3 Signal 03 · Multimodal entry
Text, audio, visual, interactive — all valid
A weaker reader who can listen to the same content, or a visual thinker who watches the same concept as a video, isn’t getting "lesser" work. They’re getting equivalent work in a different mode.
Tools by subject
Across all subjects:
Choice-board project menus Free — one topic, multiple ways to demonstrate understanding — poster, video, podcast, infographic.
Canva for Education templates Free — pre-built templates at different complexity levels mean every student can produce a polished artefact.
SLS native
SLS branching activities (Activity, Quiz or Section Prerequisites/Adding Conditions to Game Stories & Game Branches/ Recommend Content to Students on Adaptive Learning System) MOE — different students take different routes through the same lesson based on a check.
SLS Choice activities(Optional Activities & Quizzes /Create Team Activities) MOE — students pick the task version that matches their readiness or interest — same outcome, different medium.
SLS multimodal content MOE — the same concept in text, audio, video, and interactive form — students choose how to engage.
SLS Tier 1 / 2 / 3 task design within one assignment MOE — all tiers reach the same outcome; the support level differs.
SLS subgroups MOE — assign different activities to different student groups inside the same lesson.
AI differentiation
Students must complete the SLS AIEd Literacy Module before engaging with any AI tool in the classroom.
Brisk Teaching — Text Leveler Norms Free — adjusts the reading level of any article or passage in one click — same content, different complexity. Teacher reviews before sharing. Generates multiple tiered versions of the same task.
MagicSchool AI — Text Leveller Tool / Multiple Explanations Tool / Choice Board (UDL) tool Norms Free — these tools generates tiered task versions for the same learning objective — advanced extension, on-level, and scaffolded versions. Teacher reviews all output before sharing with students.
English Language:
Microsoft Immersive Reader Free — same text, with adjustable reading speed, syllable breaks, picture dictionary on demand.
Natural Readers Free — same text read aloud at different speeds — students who process better through audio get the same content.
Mathematics:
Khan Academy adaptive practice Free — auto-adjusts to each student’s level; teacher dashboard shows progress.
Desmos Classroom with optional extensions Free— core task for everyone; extension challenges for early finishers built into the same activity.
Science:
PhET simulations with guided question sheets Free— same simulation; different question sheets that scaffold or extend depending on student readiness.
Lesson exemplars · Maris Stella teachers
Add your lesson — submit via Good Practices.
Design tips
Differentiate by support, not by ceiling. Every student should be working towards the same high outcome — the path differs, the destination doesn't.
Let students choose where you can. Self-selected challenge is a strong motivator and often more accurate than teacher prediction.
Watch the cognitive load. Too many choices is its own barrier. Three options usually beats seven.
Group flexibly, not permanently. A child who needs scaffolding for fractions may not need it for geometry. Refresh groupings by topic.
Make the differentiation invisible to the class. Three tiers labelled "Tier 1 / 2 / 3" labels students; "Path A / B / C" or "Try this first / now this / push yourself" preserves dignity.