Differentiated Instruction

Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction

With a Focus on Reading

• Technology integration and differentiated instruction complement each other in many ways! This presentation provides the rationale for differentiating using technology, as well as a multitude of strategies that can be used in your classroom.

Differentiated Instruction and Technology

Integration

• Teachers begin where the students are, recognizing individual differences

• Engage students in different modalities• Use varied rates of instruction,

complexity levels, and teaching strategies

• Challenge students to compete against themselves in order to learn and grow

What is Differentiated Instruction?

What Can Teachers Differentiate?

Teachers can differentiate the content, process, and product

• Content -the depth/complexity of the

knowledge base a student explores• Process - the way in which a student gains

access to knowledge• Product - the way in which a students

knowledge is assessed

Ways Teachers Can Differentiate

Ways Teachers Can Differentiate Students

• Readiness• Interests• Learning

Profile

Why Technology?

• Existence of wide gaps in student experiences and abilities

• Students are motivated to use technology

• Flexibility of the medium• Prepares students for the

future (21st century skills)

Using Technology to Support Literacy Development

• Use an LCD projector hooked to a laptop or teacher computer to strengthen your balanced literacy curriculum!

Support reading by: • Projecting shared reading material on the classroom

wall or screen so that all students can see it and read along.

• Projecting reading-rich websites on the classroom wall or screen to expand your classroom library of shared and guided reading material.

• Projecting graphic organizers and templates (made with Microsoft Word) during guided reading. Students can more easily collaborate.

• Graphic Organizer/Template ideas: identify story parts, create character maps, construct main and supporting idea outlines, respond to reading response forms.– A website with helpful information about graphic organizers:

http://www.readingquest.org/strat/graphic.html

• Use commercially-available electronic books to extend your classroom library with multimedia reading materials.

• There are lots of resources available and several are bilingual. Research indicates that these resources:– Support struggling decoders by "reading to them." – Motivate reluctant readers with amusing graphics

and sounds. – Add to story comprehension with supplementary

literacy activities. • Good examples of books include titles

produced by Living Books such as the Arthur series, Stellaluna, and Dr. Seuss' ABCs among others. Books can be purchased online at http://www.kidsclick.com/living_books.htm

Using Technology to Support Literacy

Development

Support writing by: • Projecting teacher, class, and student writing material for

editing and commenting during shared, interactive, and guided writing. When everyone can see the material, they are more likely to participate actively in the editing process.

• Projecting concept maps using CMap software as the class or group plans writing. This strategy facilitates collaboration and encourages students to generate ideas because of the flexibility of the tool.

• This website is a helpful Language Arts site with lesson plans, videos, e-texts, technology integration, and classroom activities: http://www.webenglishteacher.com/

Using Technology to Develop Writing Skills

Helpful Websites• Book Builder

http://bookbuilder.cast.org/– Use this site to create,

share, publish, and read free digital books that engage and support diverse learners according to their individual needs, interests, and skills.

• ReadWriteThink http://www.readwritethink.org– This site has lesson plans,

student interactives, and printouts

• Reading Rocks! www.gpschools.org/ci/depts/library/reading.htm– This site provides links to your students’ favorite

authors, characters, and book sites for kids. Information is available for multiple grade levels.

• Fact Monster www.factmonster.com– This site provides information on various topics as well

as games and quizzes for your lower level readers. It also has a reference desk and homework helper.

• Information Please www.infoplease.com– This site provides information on various topics as well

as games and quizzes for your higher level readers. It also has a reference desk and homework helper.

Helpful Websites

• In conclusion, technology and multimedia applications should be an integral part of the learning environment. Our students are immersed in a daily life full of computers and other technological advances. The schools of America should reflect this change in the classroom. Integration of technology does not mean placing a computer in the corner of the classroom and leaving it un-touched throughout the semester. Technology must be incorporated in all aspects of the curriculum. To do anything less would be a disservice to our students.

Why Use Technology?

• Dare to differentiate with technology this year!

• Find resources and share them with your colleagues!

Thoughts of Motivation to Start the Year Off

References

• Isherwood, R. (2006). Technology Strategies to Differentiate [PowerPoint presentation].