I took my son to swim lessons last week. Because of the reading and coursework, I had differentiation on my mind and realized how well the instructor differentiated the swim class. I will argue that differentiation is more important in swim lessons than in a classroom. Metaphorical drowning in an undifferentiated lesson is much less problematic than literal drowning. Depending on the abilities of each swimmer, the instructor provided different equipment. For example, my son struggles to float on his back. He gets a pool noodle to help him, while the girl with more experience floats alone. Some of the students are afraid of diving underwater (it is a toddler swim class), so the instructor asks the parents to dive down with the kids. Every student is working on the same basic skill at the same time during the lessons, but they all practice a little bit differently.
Swimming provides instant feedback to the instructor. In a small class like my son’s, the instructor can see in a moment if a student can or cannot perform the desired action. Swimmers cannot hide their deficiencies by staying quiet and unnoticed. If they are in the water, their abilities are on full display. In this way, it can be easier to provide timely differentiation. There is no delayed feedback. In an academic setting, a teacher may not notice a student’s struggles for a few lessons. Students understand the reality of school and grading; they develop coping strategies to mask their weaknesses because that sort of behavior is incentivized.
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