---
title: Paper Blog | 6 Ways to Address Learner Variability
description: A panel of educators share their thoughts on asynchronous learning while identifying and addressing the different ways students learn through tech tools.
---

[Driving Equity in Education Together ](https://paper.co/blog)

# [Paper Blog | 6 Ways to Address Learner Variability](https://paper.co/blog/six-ways-to-address-learner-variability-for-roomies-and-zoomies-alike)

 Written by [Paper](https://paper.co/blog/author/paper) | April 12, 2021

Amid asynchronous learning, it’s never been more critical—or more challenging—to identify and address the different ways students learn. To share their thoughts, we welcomed a stellar panel of educators on April 9 for *Tech Tools and Strategies to Address Learner Variability*, the third and final installment of our [latest webinar series](https://pages.paper.co/teacher-discussion-series). We’ve culled our top takeaways for reaching a breadth of learners—whether they’re “roomies” or “zoomies”—from panelists [Alfonso Mendoza](https://twitter.com/TechTeacher1381) (Edinburg, TX), [Gordon Van Owen](https://twitter.com/gvanowen) (New York, NY), [Dr. Janet Ilko](https://twitter.com/writin4change) (San Diego, CA), [Natalie Conway](https://twitter.com/AOENatalie) (Prineville, OR) and moderator [Dr. Matt Rhoads](https://twitter.com/MattRhoads1990) (San Diego, CA).

 

For more tips on addressing learner variability, watch the full recording below.

 

### **Create on-demand videos**

- Record your lessons so students can watch at any time.  
- Create short screencasts that show students how to do classroom routines. These videos can include routines as simple as finding speech-to-text, accessing [Paper](https://paper.co/teachers), or replying to a Flipgrid response.
- Upload videos that explain content and related skills. Students can then watch at their desired playback speed.
- Ensure videos have captions and/or a transcript when possible.
- Rely on tools like Playposit, which facilitate interaction and note-taking 

### **Use adaptive and personalized learning tools **

- Choice boards and [asynchronous playlists](https://youtu.be/hQw4_hmzbqo?t=1523) are two great ways to tailor instruction.
- Tools like iReady, Prodigy, and MobyMax help students build and practice related skills after they’ve completed the initial task at hand. 

### **Always differentiate across four key areas**

- There are [four main aspects](https://theteachingfactor.wordpress.com/2018/09/26/guest-blog-post-differentiated-instruction-by-livia-bran/) of a classroom that can be differentiated: content, process, products, and environment.  
- **Content: **Keep things consistent—even in a hybrid environment, it’s about supplementing, not supplanting. 
- **Process: **Focus on the ways students acquire information. For leveled reading, find articles on Empower, StudySync, and iCivics.
- **Products: **Let students with different learning styles demonstrate their understanding in a way that works for them. Use tools like Jamboard, Google Draw, Screencastify, and Loom.
- **Environment:** Where, when, and with whom students learn all have an impact on learning. Maximize platforms like Zoom and Google Meet; there’s so much opportunity to create digital environments that are optimal for learning.  

### **Language skill building for different learning styles **

- Rely on books with embedded visuals and sight words with tools like Raz-Kids and Epic. 
- Have kids make anchor charts and vocab resources for one another that pair highly visual cues with text.
- Show your students how to utilize text-to-speech and speech-to-text.

### **Create digital spaces so students can communicate the old fashioned-way – verbally**

- Organize a [readers’ theatre](https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reader39s-theater-5-easy-steps/).
- Encourage students to chat on a shared digital space to prep before an oral discussion.
- Have students record and rehearse for presentations using tools like Screencastify.
- Use discussion boards where students can respond to each other verbally.
- Create personal infographics using tools like Picktochart and Canva and have  students narrate these using Loom.
- Have students create podcasts or short videos on apps like TikTok. 
- Have your seniors complete mock interviews and record one-minute elevator pitches for themselves.

### **Incorporate student choice and agency**

- Make your content and lessons more relevant to students and their personal experiences. In AP courses at Gordon’s all-girls school, for example, students read only books by female authors.
- Teaching math? Have students choose the ed tech tool that they like most. Maybe that’s edPuzzle to hear the teacher’s voice, or Delta Math, for a less hands-on approach. 

*Tech Tools and Strategies to Address Learner Variability* concludes our [series](https://pages.paper.co/teacher-discussion-series) for teachers, by teachers. 12 passionate, tech-savvy K-12 educators shared a myriad of tools and tactics on how to take charge of increasingly tech-infused classrooms. If you missed any of these conversations, remember to check out the video recordings and recaps! 

- [*Enhancing instructional strategies with ed tech *](https://paper.co/blog/five-educators-five-concrete-ways-to-engage-students)
- [*Modern instructional strategies for the "toggled" term*](https://paper.co/blog/better-blended-learning-quick-tips-for-teaching-students-in-and-out-of-the-classroom)

 

[View full post](https://paper.co/blog/six-ways-to-address-learner-variability-for-roomies-and-zoomies-alike)

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