Differentiation refers to the ability of a teacher to adjust a lesson, drill, activity, task, and/or game to maximize learning and achievement for every member of the class.  Differentiation in physical education can be very challenging with the vast range of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development in our classes.

As stated by the team at The PE Project, “As Physical Education teachers, it is our responsibility to make sure our lessons are barrier-free and meet the diverse needs of our students.” Physical educators’ approach this need in various ways.

This course dives into a model that allows us to differentiate with intentionality and effectiveness.  Teachers will leave this course with an understanding of the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) to skill acquisition/motor learning and how it can be best implemented into the day to day of physical education.

In this course learners will:

• Enrich their understanding of differentiation.
• Understand the basic concepts of the Constraints-Led Approach.
• Identify the primary constraints of skill acquisition.
• Develop practical strategies for utilizing the CLA in physical education.
• Identify ancillary benefits of using the CLA.