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This page contains a research
paper and a technology plan.
My Goals for Technology
Integration and Differentiated Instruction
By Laurie Haddock |
Technology and Differentiated Instruction in action! My goals are foremost to meet the needs of
my students and live true to my educational philosophy. I will begin with basic introduction to the concept of Differentiated
Instruction and lead into the methods I use to integrate technolgy and finally a plan to refine my technology
integration in the future. Many educators are well aware of this approach, many have heard the terminology, and still others
may not be aware of the entire picture. I will give examples of implementation and links that will assist educators in their
own custom plans. You are most likely practicing this DI Approach already. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences has been taught for some time now; this is an important part of knowing
your client and using DI effectively. [template for teachers] My goal is to get to know the needs of my students and differentiate using technolgy. I really do believe
in practical application, “doing work for a reason”. I strive to enage my students in meaningful tasks.
“To differentiate instruction is to recognize students varying background knowledge, readiness,
language, preferences in learning, interests, and to react responsively. Differentiated instruction is a process to approach
teaching and learning for students of differing abilities in the same class. The intent of differentiating instruction is
to maximize each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is, and assisting in
the learning process.” Hall, T. (2002). How
will you best meet the needs of your clients each year ,each day ,each class? Your plans must be flexible for every entity.
I teach in a middle school where the excitement never ceases! You must be reflective and ready to change as the students needs
change. Technology is changing the world every minute, thus your students need to be aware and comfortable with it.
Differentiated
Instruction is a way for teachers to reflect on their effectiveness in the classroom for all students, not only students who
have specific needs and plans on paper
( IEP), all students benefit from DI. Many groups of kids can get overlooked: slow
learners, children with ESOL parents, students who have moved to different districts, and gifted the list goes on. Every child
needs a custom plan of education, technology helps us get there!
As
I was researching I found a stellar presentation of technology and DI online. Please take time to go through this. You will find an easy to follow guide with technology ideas and convincing arguments for integration in
education.
Simplified summary (I have asked the author for permission to use the material.) Content, Process, and
Products these key words are guidelines to help educators form an understanding and develop ideas around differentiating instruction.
Ideas for Integration
Online homework board with all of the following: due dates, worksheets, study guides, favorite
links, Inquiry pictures for discussion, and homework assignments. This can all be done at Schoolnotes.com This method of posting
homework will reach students with slow processing, hand writing difficulty, or organizational skills to mention a few areas
Web Quests : I use Trakstar4teachers.org in
my current position. This is a web based utility program that allows teachers to customize a research activity. The process
helps students gain confidence on the computer and find answers to important content problems.
Software: This varies greatly Encarta electronic encyclopedia, Dk encyclopedia , and
phschool online are just a few examples.
Internet Sampler: Pre researched web sites arranged in anyway are a good way to direct
the student through efficient research in order to keep them from surfing aimlessly.
Internet Scavenger Hunt: Fun way to collect information that can be used for quizzes,
tests, culminating projects ect.
PowerPoint: An effective tool which allows the creator build a custom electronic slide
show. Teachers and students can easily use this product. I know from experience that students LOVE to use Power Point to present
their knowledge
Excel: I use this program for data collection and graphing display. It is also a vital
part of a interdisciplinary unit I do with the 7th grade science class. This Excel has the ability to store formulas
so the students can just add numbers while the software does the work for you. Example vacation checkbook for kids virtual
national park trip
Electronic
grade books: A well organized mode of grade keeping with graphing possibilities
and online access for parents. Powerschool, e-class, and teacherease are just a few.
Paperless
projects: This is a conservationists dream. An entire unit can be presented, explored and assessments completed by students
using technology. You can use the Internet to take virtual vacations on web sites you pre-arrange for them. Using Word you
can create locked templates and forms which the students enter their work into and submit online, the teacher can then correct
these assessments online. No need for a paper ever to be printed. I use this approach and assign the students with a complimentary
partner ( after I have known the students for awhile). The partners motivate each other and the students are excited to take
the virtual trip.
A helpfulful resource for in depth use and organization of DI is Hall's explanation of Tomlinson's (2001) three elements of differentiated curriculum
in: Content, Process, and Products (Hall et al 2006). Additionally, several guidelines are noted to help educators form an
understanding and develop ideas around differentiating instruction.
Content
Your presentation of material
- Several elements and materials are used to support
instructional content. These include acts, concepts, generalizations or principles, attitudes, and skills. The variation seen
in a differentiated classroom is most frequently the manner in which students gain access to important learning. Access to
the content is seen as key.
- Align tasks and objectives to learning goals. Designers
of differentiated instruction determine as essential the alignment of tasks with instructional goals and objectives.
- Instruction is concept-focused and principle-driven.
The instructional concepts should be broad based and not focused on minute details or unlimited facts. Teachers must focus
on the concepts, principles and skills that students should learn. The content of instruction should address the same concepts
with all students but be adjusted by degree of complexity for the diversity of learners in the classroom. Technology can also
instantly connect you to the State standards.
Process Student Inquiry and exploration
- Flexible grouping is consistently used. Strategies
for flexible grouping are essential. Learners are expected to interact and work together as they develop knowledge of new
content. I start with a class discussion and introduction to the task the students are to accomplish in teams of 2-4 students.
The students have their content notes and vocabulary and are ready to apply there learning. It is not necessary to fill in
every detail, give the students a reason to search and ask each other questions.
- Classroom management benefits students and teachers.
Technology can also assist teachers in classroom management. As we all know when children are excited about the topic and
engaged in the task at hand the various off task behaviors diminish to almost nothing. Picture the students at their individual
computers this will give the teacher time to go to each student for one on one help while the others are enjoying their work. [Reading “Carol Tomlinson (2001) identifies 17 strategies for teachers to design
and manage differentiated instruction in her text How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, Chapter
7.]
Products
Assessment of student
- Initial and on-going assessment of student readiness
and growth are essential. Meaningful pre-assessment naturally leads to functional and successful differentiation. Assessments
may be formal or informal, including interviews, surveys, performance assessments, and more formal evaluation procedures.
Incorporating pre and on-going assessment informs teachers to better provide a menu of approaches, choices, and levels for
the varying needs, interests and abilities that exist in classrooms of diverse students.
- Students are active and responsible explorers. Teacher’s
respect that each task put before the learner will be interesting, engaging, and accessible to essential understanding and
skills. Each child should feel challenged most of the time.
- Vary expectations and requirements for student responses.
Items to which students respond may be differentiated for students to demonstrate or express their knowledge and understanding.
A well-designed student product allows varied means of expression, alternative procedures, and provides varying degrees of
difficulty, types of evaluation, and scoring.
Below
you will find resources to assist you with content , process , and products using DI and technology in your classroom.
Incorporating technology and DI ~click on any underlined links below.
I
have included a summary of each link and its possible use. There is so much information out there this is just the tip
of the ice berg!
Note:
Please check each link for appropriateness at your class level.
http://www.lmsd.org/staff/techmentor/podcast/DI_Tech_Handout.pdf
This site contains further research on DI
http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_diffinstruc.html
Professional site with more DI background using authors such as: Guild and Garger 1998, Willis
and Mann 2000, Holloway 2000
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/122000/home2.php
Technology review, super site for teachers and administrators for technology ideas.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/edurate.shtml
Thousands of tech teachers’ tutoring for software and basically anything you need help
with !!!
Tools and templates WAIT
TILL YOU SEE THIS!
http://scratch.mit.edu/
This web site may be useful for some, it is a site where kids can use their imaginations and
creates games, pictures, and interactive programs.
http://www.scrapblog.com/
Very very neat site students or teachers can creates a blog in a scrapbook style. This can
be used as a culminationg project , students could communicate with a sister school and exchange information. I am excited
about this one.
Grades 5-8 inquiry lessons
science
http://www.unitedstreaming.com/
This online software I am using myself in my classroom. Tons of videos and more….check
it out
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/mi/w1_interactive1.html
Multiple intelligence online interactive test for you!
http://www.stcms.si.edu/stcms.htm
Interactive and virtual learning simply fantastic.
Research has proven that technology and differentiated instruction are effective! Curricula
is taught as the student applies their knowledge. Students are learning necessary technology skills for their successful future.
The needs of every student can be met.
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