Technology:The Key to Differentiated

Instruction

Differentiation

Providing students with different tasks that lead to real learning for each child

5 Elements of Differentiation

• Content: teacher expectations• Process: methods• Product: student work demonstrating mastery• Environment: physical setting and conditions• Assessment: mastery level evaluation

Technology Tools for Differentiating Instruction

• Desktops or Laptops• Word processing/drawing/painting• Digital camera or Video Camcorder and iPhoto or iMovie• PhotoBooth• Presentation software-Powerpoint or Keynote or Open Office• GarageBand• Kidspiration/Inspiration• Pages • Alphasmarts• Online resources

Classroom Unit on EcologyContent goals:• Identify and locate oceans• Identify sources of pollution• Identify prevention measures

Joshua- Student with Learning Disabilities

• Below grade level in reading and written language

• Difficulty organizing thoughts and assignments

• Needs assistance to work independently

Assistive Technology Assistive Technology is defined as “any

item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”

Universally Designed Curriculum

• Provides multiple representations of content• Provides multiple options for expression

and control• Provides multiple options for engagement

and motivation

Low Tech. Options• pencil grips• slant boards• raised lined paper• post-it notes and

flags• highlighter

markers• small white

boards

• highlighter tape• alphabet strips• colored acetates• colored file cards

and folders• puffed paint• velcro

High Tech. Options• Desktop Computer• Laptop• AlphaSmart• Smartboard• Scanner• Digital Camera• Franklin Speller• Scanner pens• Alternate Keyboards

Software and Tools

• Co-Writer• Write Outloud• Kurzweil• text-to-speech tool• Kidspiration• Inspiration• Word Processing

program with spell/grammar check and thesaurus

• Keynote or Powerpoint

• calculator with large print screen

• zoomcaps• control panels- can

change the speed or thickness of the cursor, enlarging icons, I-beam, and text screen magnification

Possible Uses of Technology• Webhunt: information discovery• Text to Speech: read aloud• Kidspiration/Inspiration: graphic organizer• Powerpoint/Keynote/OpenOffice: presentation• Internet Search: research data (using hotlists) and

seek out pictures in support of findings• Video Camcorder/iSight: record student’s oral

presentation in small group, partners, or one-on-one

• iMovie/iPhoto: create PSA to demonstrate content mastery

Creating Hotlists using Online Resources

Trackstarhttp://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/

Filamentalityhttp://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/

Joshua can learn about the content by utilizing a specially designed teacher created webhunt with online resources.

A text-to-speech tool included on the laptop or eReader can be used to read Internet content.

Kidspiration/Inspiration

Why is the

ocean in trouble?

waste

oil spills

chemicals

dangerous debris

other garbageplastics

In order to outline his thoughts, Joshua will use Kidspiration/Inspiration to create a graphic organizer.

POLLUTION

Pollution Sources

Oil spills in the ocean

litter on land and

in the ocean

Pollution prevention methods

educate young

children about

environment and their role in prevention

fines for polluters

recycle trash

snip 6 pack rings

avoid using aerosol sprays

acid rain

InspirationOutline Mode

Creating Products with Technology After mastering the content…Joshua will:• Will utilize a word processing program with spell

and grammar check features and a thesaurus to enhance vocabulary choices to assist him in creating a paragraph outlining pollution sources and prevention measures

• Will present his knowledge of the content through the use of PowerPoint or Keynote.

• Use the built in iSight camera or camcorder to create a PSA to show pollution and prevention measures to share with classmates.

The Average Student and the High Ability Student

Katie (average learner):• Can follow along independently• Can organize thoughts and research• Has creativity to demonstrate acquired knowledge James (high ability):• Finishes work quickly• Able to teach himself what he needs to know• Has already mastered content objectives necessary

Uses of Technology

• Internet Research through the use of a webquest to answer a prescribed set of critical thinking questions

• Video Production to create a variety of “news” style broadcasts to demonstrate knowledge

• Pages to create a newsletter or brochure• GarageBand to create a radio show

WebquestsFilamentalityhttp://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/

“Search Filamentality” to see if a Webquest already exists on topic

“Start a New Topic” for a step by step template/tutorial to create and post your own Webquest

Creating Products with Technology After mastering the content…

Katie will:• Work with her partner to create a flow chart

demonstrating human influence on pollution• Use Pages to create a flyer to promote how people

can positively contribute to clean up efforts

Creating Products with Technology 2 After mastering the content…

James will:• Create a timeline of an effort to reduce

pollution• Use PowerPoint to create a presentation to

show to an audience to recruit volunteers• Use a camcorder and iMovie to produce a movie

educating others about pollution; causes, awareness, and prevention

• Create and monitor a blog following the clean up effort

Timelines

Site to create quick and easy timelines:• http://teach-nology.com/web_tools/

materials/timeline

Observation Timeline by James. L

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Today I went to Sandhill Cove. The waves were huge. I found 8 pieces of newspaper and saw a women throw a wrapper on the ground.

Today was worse! I spoke to a fisherman and he said the last 3 lobsters he caught died from chemicals in the water. What are we going to do?

Today I spoke to the owner of “The Catch”, a seafood restaurant. She said she had to raise her prices because good seafood is now very expensive to buy. I need to find out how much the prices have risen!

Today I went to Scarborough Beach. This beach was a mess. There was trash everywhere and it smelled like sewerage. I wonder why it smells that way. I need to find out more about the sewerage and where it’s located. There is so much to be done!

It’s been a long week. Today I surveyed 15 people on the beach about the feelings on ocean pollution. My results were very interesting!

Media Resources

• For PC’s use Windows Movie Maker rather than iMovie

• Local cable station• Media specialists,

technology specialists in your school or video specialist person in high school

Assessment Tools Online

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

Access it onlineChoose a customizable rubricEdit rubric to suit your needsSave itPrint it

Another Rubric Site

• http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/

• Many categories of rubrics available to be printed

• Can not be edited

Other Resources for Rubrics Online

Kathy Schrock's Guide to Educators: Assessment Rubrics

Everything you ever wanted to know about rubrics and more….

http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html#rubrics

Project Based Checklistshttp://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/

CustomizablePrintable checklistsKeep students on track and allow

them to take responsibility for their own learning through peer and self evaluation.

The following list will help you use the internet to find valuable resources:

•To create hotlists and simple webquests: http://trackstar.4teachers.org/ or http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/

•Inspiration Educator Resources: http://www.inspiration.com/edresources/index.cfm

•To create timelines: http://teachnology.com/web_tools/materials/timeline/

•Assessment Tools: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

•Project Based Checklists: http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/

•Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Educators: Assessment Rubrics: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html

•WestEd’s Regional Technology in Education Consortium (this is the current posted website for the handout entitled “Technology Tips for Differentiated Instruction”: http://rtecexchange.edgateway.net/cs/rtecp/view/rtec_str/11

•Other great resources:

•http://www.lakelandschools.org/edtech/differentiation/home.htm

•http://oxbow.concord.k12.in.us/Teacher%20Resources/Tools%20for%20Differeniated%20Instruction%20Using%20Technology.htm

•http://www.internet4classrooms.com/di.htm

•http://webquest.org/index.php

•http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.html

•http://tomsnyder.com/

•http://www.readwritethink.org/resources/index.asp

•http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/index.htm

See attachments for more outstanding resources.

Classroom Scenario 1

You have a classroom of 20 students.

You have 3 students on IEPs; one with ADHD, and 2 with language processing disorders.

You have 4 students identified as gifted and talented.

The remaining 10 students are of average ability.

• You are doing unit on sea life.

• You have the following technology available:

-digital camera -digital video camera - mobile cart of 25

wireless laptops -Kidspiration/Inspiration -Word processing software -any two applications of your choice

Classroom Scenario 2

• You have a classroom of 22 students.

• You have 3 students on IEPs, two with ADHD and one with language processing disorders.

• You have 3 students identified as gifted and talented.

• The remaining 16 students are of average ability.

• You are doing a unit simple machines.

• You have -A video camera -A digital camera -A lab of 30 computers -PowerPoint -iMovie -Kidspiration -Word processing program -2 applications of your choice

Classroom Scenario 3

• You have a classroom of 23 6th graders.

• You have 4 students on IEPs: 2 with reading disorders, 2 with ADHD

• You have 5 students identified as gifted and talented.

• The remaining 14 students are of average ability.

• You are doing a unit on geometry in our lives.

• You have the following technology available:– Digital camera– Video camera– 4 classroom computers– Inspiration– Powerpoint– Word processing software– 2 applications of your choice

Credits• The Differentiated Classroom Responding to the Needs of

All Learners Carol Ann Tomlinson• http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil• http://webquest.sdsu.edu/index.html• http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec596/

about_webquests.html• http://rubistar.4teachers.org/• http://4teachers.org/projectbase/checklist.shtml

• http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/• http://teachers.teach-nology.com

• http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html#rubrics