Differentiation: Approach to Student Centered Classrooms in an Online Environment

Rajni Bhargava

New York University

The presentation will examine the use of differentiation techniques. They are related to specific factors, i.e. students’ readiness, interest and learning profile. Secondly, how to engage students in real-life contexts while training critical thinking, research and problem solving; communication and collaboration. The integration of language, culture and content is the best instructional paradigm which specifically yields the training of these 21st century skills. This presentation is an attempt to articulate the balance between technology and learning while meeting the needs and creating opportunities to engage each and every student in an online environment.

Bio: Rajni Bhargava is a Lecturer at New York University (NYU) and teaches Hindi at the three main proficiency levels. She is an ACTFL certified tester and serves as the Assessment Coordinator for the Hindi and Urdu programs at NYU. She is also coordinator and language expert for the STARTALK Arabic, Hindi and Urdu Teacher Training Summer Institute at NYU. Since 2009 Rajni has been involved in sustaining Hindi instruction as well as training teachers from community and public schools. She is a Hindi poetess with publications in books, print and web magazines. She has participated in numerous poetry conventions and language pedagogy conferences or workshops.