Since Tomlinson wrote the initial book on differentiated instruction in 1999, teachers across the nation have begun to implement a wider variety of activities in their classes, based on the differentiated instructional paradigm (O'Meara, 2010; Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011; Tomlinson, 2010).

When was differentiated learning introduced?

Back to the Beginning. The history of differentiated instruction dates back to the 1600s when one room school houses were the staple in education. In this setting, one teacher was responsible for educating students in a wide range of grades and ability levels.

Who started differentiation in education?

This model has been used in iterations as far back as the late Robert Glaser's Individually Prescribed Instruction in the 1970s, an approach which pairs diagnostic tests with objectives for mastery that is intended to help students progress through material at their own pace.