Adding Depth and Complexity
Tools for Differentiation
What is the Depth and Complexity Model?
The Depth and Complexity Model consists of 11 icons/tools used to prompt student thinking. Each of these eleven tools are considered essential elements one needs to master a subject. For example, chemists need to understand the language of a chemist, the different points of view of in chemistry, the rules that govern chemistry, the ethical decisions chemists face, etc. Likewise, a master of chess would be an expert in the language of chess, the patterns of chess games, the rules to follow, and the way the game has changed over time. When students think using these tools, they learn to approach subjects from the point of view of an expert. In doing so, they will understand concepts in a deeper and more complex way.
-from Byrdseed.com
In other words, Depth and Complexity...
- can be an answer to that question..."What are you doing for gifted students?"
- are visual cues (pictures) that guide student thinking and understanding.
- provide a low-prep way to meet individual learning needs.
- align with teaching standards to differentiate for ALL students and often fit with what you are already doing.
- are based on the work of Sandra Kaplan.
To get started, watch the short videos below about how to introduce the icons. Also print this overview chart to use as a quick reference and the poster with the icons and question prompts to post in your classroom. To familiarize your students with the icons, use the poster as a point of reference while teaching, during class discussions, and when planning lessons. Consider introducing the icons one at a time.
Four Steps to Introducing the Icons
- Give the icon a definitive meaning and definition.
- Relate to previous knowledge.
- Apply to new knowledge.
- Relate to the real world and personal experience - current events.
Eight Icons Representing DEPTH - learning a concept from the concrete to the abstract, the known to the unknown
Language of the Discipline
- Specialized language or vocabulary related to a concept or topic - Includes key words, phrases, signs, symbols, figures of speech, etc...
- To understand a mathematical concept, students must understand the language of math - sum, difference, equation. Chemists must understand the "language of chemistry".
Details
- Supporting information that enhances understanding - parts, factors, attributes, traits and variables
- Who, what, when where, why and how. Discerning important details of a story is key to critically analyzing a text.
Patterns
- Recurring/repeating elements or factors in ideas, objects, stories and events - predictable, repetitive and ordered
- Repetitive language - "Little pig, little pig...", mathematical patterns - number lines, geometry
Rules
- Organizational elements that create structure, represent order and hierarchy
- Classification in science, structure of text (main idea, details), mathematical formulas, rules of a chess game
Trends
- Ongoing factors/changes or causes and effects of changes that influence a topic or discipline
- Trends can be studied in all subjects - trends in prices of food, clothing in various cultures, trends in student math scores, changes in a story's setting over time, etc...
Ethics
- Moral principles and dilemmas, rights and wrongs, controversies, pros and cons
- Examples: What are the pros and cons of animal testing? What moral dilemmas exist in in Goldilocks and the Three Bears?
Big Idea
- An overarching statement that best describes a topic, study or discipline, the primary theme or main idea
- Examples of big ideas - power, systems, change, conflict
Unanswered Questions
- What is still not understood about this topic? How is the information incomplete or lacking explanation? What are you left wondering? Are there any unresolved issues or missing parts?
Thinking Skills: Recognizing Ambiguity, Formulate Questions, Distinguish Fact from Opinion. Recognize Fallacies, Identify Missing Information
Three Icons Representing COMPLEXITY - making connections and relationships, associations across disciplines
Multiple Perspectives
- Differing roles or ideas, opposing viewpoints, biases, pros and cons
- How is the situation viewed differently by people/characters?
- How would the topic/story be different from another perspective?
Thinking Skills: Argumentation, Determine Bias, Classify, Evaluate Pros/Cons, Identify Viewpoints
Changes Over Time
- Changes among past, present, future and/or within a time period
- How are ideas and text releated over time (past, present, future) or within a time period?
- How has time affected events/information?
- How or why do things change or remain the same?
Across Disciplines
- Common elements among similar topics from different disciplines, the relationship of a concept between disciplines, connections to real world events and personal experiences