Differentiating Instruction with Technology

1. Differentiating Instruction with Technology Grace Strahan-Piper July 13, 2010

2. Ways you can connect… gstrahan@syndcs.com http://alabamatechtools.wikispaces.com/ @blusage

3. Something to think about… A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions. -Anonymous

4. What is differentiated instruction? • Tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. • Content • Process • Product • Learning environment • Use of ongoing assessment • Flexible grouping

5. What do you currently know about DI? • Talk to the person sitting next to you. • Discuss one key point that you know about differentiating instruction. • SHARE with the group when time is up.

6. What do you want to know? • It is important to have a plan of what you want to know and ask questions. • Lets make a list of things you want to know about DI. • How does technology fit into this equation?

7. Forrest Lake Elementary http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-technology-elementary-video

8. What do you think? • How is technology being used as a teaching and learning tool at this school? • How has this method of teaching inspired students? • How does this method of teaching inspire the teachers? • What has changed about the teaching/learning environment at this school? • What could you do at your school?

9. Think… • What are some technology resources that are untapped at your school? • These resources can be hardware or software… • But your resources can include personnel…

10. Are you an untapped resource?

11. Connecting parents to school… http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-home-school-parent-connection-video

12. DI by Content • The content that drives our instruction is the curriculum from the Alabama Department of Education. • Can all students successfully master grade level content? • What about those students that are ready to go beyond grade level content? • DI by content allows students at different levels to master grade level content by scaffolding the instruction up or down to meet the instructional needs of the students.

13. Technology Connection • Online text • Streaming Videos • Audio Resources • Photographs • Access to curriculum frameworks

14. DI by Process • These are the actual learning activities that students engage in to make sense of or master the content • In this step – you will need to account for the learning style or intelligence of the students. • How do you learn best? • What is your learning style?

15. Lets Take a Test • Go to the website http://www.bgfl.org/ • Type Multiple Intelligences Test into the search on the left of the screen • Take the multiple intelligences test for yourself.

16. What does this reveal about you?

17. How would this information help with your students?

18. How do we learn best?

19. Retention of Information Passive Teaching Methods Participant Teaching Methods Lecture Reading Audio Visual Demonstration Group Discussion Practice Teaching Others

20. Technology Application • Demonstrating ideas and concepts through whole group introduction • Having students to read online text • Watching multimedia content • Lecturing Remember these are passive teaching methods….

21. Technology Application • Group discussions through blogs and wikis • Locating information and conducting research online • Heterogeneous groups that allow for peer teaching/tutoring • Project based learning • Inquiry based learning • Webquests • Creation of Podcasts • Partnering students from multi-grade levels

22. Technology Connection Auditory/Visual Learners Tactile/Kinesthetic multimedia presentations PowerPoint Online graphic organizers Audio visuals Podcasts Blogs Wikis Interactive Whiteboards Student Response Systems Educational games/software Virtual manipulatives

23. DI by Product • Projects or assignments • Students demonstrate what they have learned • Extends student thinking through the application process • Inquiry based learning • Collaborative assignments

24. Technology Connection • Scaffold assignments • Peer tutoring/grouping • Many levels of resources available online to teachers • Sharing of resources and ideas for differentiating instruction • Podcasts/online professional development • Blogs – join and respond to an existing one • Create your own blog about DI to share your ideas and gain insight from others

25. Online Resources • Multimedia content and materials encourage students to make connections. • Audio files further anchor thinking. • Non-fiction text and information. • Ability to locate specific information easily that applies to learning styles and abilities. • Creation of online study guides and materials through blogs and wikis. • Home/school connection.

26. Reflection • Create a blog where students can convey what they learned. • Online journaling. • Wikis where everyone can contribute something and be successful. • Podcasts for students to share what they have learned.

27. DI by Learning Environment • This is how the classroom works • How the classroom feels • Organizational features that work for all students and the teacher • Flow and order

28. How am I going to use the technology resources in my room?

29. Technology Connection • Resources should be accessible by students • Create rotation charts and organizational features that are visual and easy to use when sharing resources • Organize based on noise level • Headphones • Passwords/login information • Help system

30. Ongoing Assessment • Checklists • Rubrics • Portfolios • Student presentations • Classroom observations – formal and informal

31. More from Forrest Lake Elementary http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-learning-styles-video

32. Q & A • How did teachers at Forrest Lake use assessment to drive classroom instruction? • What were some of the innovative ways that technology was used to differ instruction to meet diverse needs? • How is collaboration a key concept at this school? • What are some of the assessment methods that are used at this school?

33. Technology Connection • MS Word is an easy way to create organizational tools that can be duplicated and changed with ease. • Online rubric makers • Ideas for assessment from other teachers

34. Flexible Grouping • Individual assignments • Pairs/partnering • Homogeneous groups • Heterogeneous groups • Grouping by learning style

35. Grouping Tips • Students needs to have a job/purpose • Make students accountable for their learning • Groups should not be static • Sometimes ability groups are needed • Other times it is valuable to all learners to work with different levels • Teach students how to work together in groups

36. Cooperative Group Role Cards

37. Appointment Cards

38. Lets review the steps… • Get to know your students! • Establish a learning environment based on learning styles and resources • Content • Grouping • Process • Product • Assessment

39. Kappy Cannon, South Carolina’s Principal of the Year http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-leadership-principal-video

40. Key Points • What are some things that stand out about this school? • How does community building impact this school?

41. Putting it all together • Create a DI activity for your students • First select the content • Group your students • What is the process that you want you learners to use? • Account for below level, on level and above grade level learners in the process of learning. • Plan for the product of the learning content. What will students produce? • Assessment

42. What did you learn today?

43. Food for thought… Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. ~Henry L. Doherty

44. Grace Strahangstrahan@synergeticsdcs.com Have a great school year!!!