EFFECT OF DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH OF TEACHING BIOLOGY TO CLASS XI STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON SPATIAL THINKING SKILLS

The researcher made an initiative on trying out this Action Research using GCAT4 tools to experiment
implementing new teaching strategies and bring in freshness into classroom transaction. It was decided to
experiment it out with a subject of the researcher’s choice and interest, that is Biology and wanted to try out the
interpretations of assessment tools in relation to the National Curriculum. Performance of seven students of
Grade XI ISC (Indian School Certificate) in the subject Biology, was analysed through their school exams and a
specially developed pre-test followed by the administration of assessment tools of GCAT4. The findings
provided an opportunity to discuss with teachers and students to understand the preferred pattern of learning
style of each student and then evolved a plan using differentiated approaches with reference to spatial skills and
try out whether it really had any effect on their enhanced performance in Biology. This also gave an opportunity
to choose on fundamental concepts and give a differentiated approach to cater to the type of learning profile
generated using the GCAT4 tools.