Which statement best describes differentiation of instruction for GT students?

• A. Differentiation means giving all students identical tasks.
• B. Differentiation means only changing the pace.
• C. Differentiation involves adjusting content, process, and product to match readiness and interests.
• D. Differentiation is not appropriate for GT instruction.

Answer: (C)

Differentiation means tailoring what is taught, how it’s taught, and how students show their learning to fit each student’s readiness and interests. For GT learners, that means offering more challenging content or deeper concepts (adjusting content), providing varied ways to think about and approach the task (adjusting process), and allowing different ways to demonstrate understanding (adjusting product). For example, a GT student might tackle a multi-layered, open-ended problem, work on an independent extension, and choose to present findings as a research project, a performance, or a written report. Giving everyone identical tasks or only changing pace misses the need to fit instruction to individual readiness and interests, and assuming differentiation isn’t appropriate for GT contradicts its purpose of truly stretching and engaging advanced learners.