Academia Open
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): June

Teacher Roles in Differentiated Instruction in Elementary IPAS Learning: Peran Guru dalam Pengajaran Berdiferensiasi pada Pembelajaran IPAS di Sekolah Dasar

Adilah Hidayatun Nisaa'ul Ulaa (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo)
Mahardika Darmawan Kusuma Wardana (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo)



Article Info

Publish Date
19 Jun 2025

Abstract

General Background: Differentiated instruction has emerged as a key approach for addressing diverse student needs in contemporary elementary education. Specific Background: In Indonesian primary schools implementing the Merdeka Curriculum, classroom teachers are expected to adapt instruction to students’ readiness, interests, and learning profiles, particularly in IPAS subjects emphasizing experiential learning. Knowledge Gap: Despite its importance, empirical understanding of how classroom teachers enact differentiated roles in real classroom contexts remains limited, especially within local elementary settings. Aims: This study analyzes the roles of a classroom teacher in implementing differentiated instruction in a fourth-grade IPAS class at SDN Sidoklumpuk Sidoarjo. Results: Using a qualitative phenomenological approach with interviews, observations, and documentation, the study found that the teacher enacted five key roles: facilitator of learning opportunities, mentor, student reader, provider of learning responsibility, and teacher of learning skills, while differentiating content, process, product, and learning environment based on student characteristics. Novelty: The findings demonstrate adaptive and reflective enactment of all five roles within an authentic Indonesian classroom context. Implications: These results provide practical insights for teachers and schools seeking to implement student-centered differentiated iHighlights: Five pedagogical functions were consistently enacted according to Tomlinson’s framework. Instructional adjustments addressed readiness, interests, and learning profiles across multiple dimensions. Classroom practices fostered meaningful, student-centered learning experiences in a real school context. Keywords: Differentiated Instruction; Teacher Roles; Elementary Education; IPAS Learning; Qualitative Phenomenology

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

acopen

Publisher

Subject

Medicine & Pharmacology Public Health

Description

Academia Open is published by Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo published 2 (two) issues per year (June and December). This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. This ...