Section Four: Differentiating Instruction through Technology
Introduction
Differentiated instruction is based on a teaching philosophy that teachers should adapt instruction to student differences. Students that might benefit most from internet based software instruction vary in abilities and cultural background that have a variety of learning styles (Cobb, 2010). There are a variety of internet based software programs that can assist teachers in creating a lesson plan that caters to each student’s skill level. A list has been created to find the best technology tools for differentiate instruction for grades 3-5.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction
Dragon Dictation: This is a voice recognition app that is used to transcribe what a student says into words. It can then send the transcribed message as a text, email, or even social media post. This technology would be a great asset to any classroom because it allows any student who might struggle with writing or note taking to record the notes as they hear them and then to write them down later at their own pace. This app gives each student the freedom to work in more than one way. Students can also record ideas for projects that can be saved in their notes or even sent to the group to share with one another outside of class. Students can take this anywhere they can bring their phone or portable device because it is just an app that is easily installed at no charge.
ISTE Standards – 2.Communuication and collaboration (a,b)
PowToon: An animated illustration software that allows students to use their creativity and knowledge to create a presentation. They can include videos, voice recordings and various pictures and animations to make it their own. This program allows the student to express their individuality how they learned the lesson and while giving the teacher an idea of their level of understanding on the lesson.
ISTE Standards – 1. Creativity and innovation (b,c,d), 3. Research and information fluency (c), 4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making (b)
WeVideo: This is a video recording tool that can be accessed as a website or through a mobile app. The students can create a video of themselves for projects and save them to the site. Their video can then be accessed by the teacher from the site. This site has a section created especially for education purposes so anything the students record and save is protected. WeVideo can be utilized by any age group so it would be perfect for a third grade classroom. ISTE Standards – 1. Creativity and innovation (b,c,d)
Pros and Cons
As with anything technology-based, differentiated instruction comes with its own set of pros and cons. There are many ways differentiated instruction can be introduced to a classroom, not all include technology usage. Classrooms can be broken down into groups or teams or the lesson plan can be created using tiered assignments that cater to each students’ learning level individually. Another method is station teaching where each student can visit an area that is set up to teach a specific part of the lesson using specific tools (Tools for Schools, n.d.). This allows students the freedom to explore and learn the lesson at their own pace. Integrating technology in each of these learning methods will enhance the learning experience for each student and it creates an opportunities outside of the classroom through distant learning (Tools for Schools, n.d.). Technology-based instruction is an effective tool because many software programs are made to assess students based on their individual abilities (Cobb, 2010), allowing them to excel at their own pace. However, technology based instruction does not come without flaws. Technology is ever changing, and for most of the older generation it is still relatively new. This requires ongoing training and professional development on the proper use of both the technology literacy and how to properly apply it to the classroom (Cobb, 2010). Many schools do not have the manpower or the resources for such training.
Concluding Paragraph
Differentiated instruction caters to all types of students’ learning levels by adjusting the lesson to everyone’s needs. Technology is useful in enhancing the learning experience for students, but requires a great deal of resources that many school districts cannot currently manage. Whether technology is used or not, creating a lesson plan involving differentiated instruction enables the students to learn in their own learning styles and at their own pace. As a teacher, student success is the ultimate goal; by using these tools, that goal can be achieved.
References:
Cobb, A. (2010). To differentiate or not to differentiate? Using internet-based technology in the classroom. Quarterly Review Of Distance Education [serial online]. Spring2010 2010;11(1):37-45. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 25, 2015
Education World. (2013). Cool Tech Tools for Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech-tools-for-differentiated-instruction.shtml
ISTE. (2015). ISTE Standards for Students. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/ISTE-standards/standards-for-students
Louisiana State Standards. (2015). Science. Retrieved from http://www.louisianabelieves.com/docs/default-source/academic-standards/standards---k-12-science.pdf?sfvrsn=4
Tools for Schools. (n.d.) Differentiated Instruction-A Tool for All Students. Material Resource. Retrieved from http://troup612resources.troup.k12.ga.us/strategies_resources/differentiation/resourcesdiffinstr.pdf
Introduction
Differentiated instruction is based on a teaching philosophy that teachers should adapt instruction to student differences. Students that might benefit most from internet based software instruction vary in abilities and cultural background that have a variety of learning styles (Cobb, 2010). There are a variety of internet based software programs that can assist teachers in creating a lesson plan that caters to each student’s skill level. A list has been created to find the best technology tools for differentiate instruction for grades 3-5.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction
Dragon Dictation: This is a voice recognition app that is used to transcribe what a student says into words. It can then send the transcribed message as a text, email, or even social media post. This technology would be a great asset to any classroom because it allows any student who might struggle with writing or note taking to record the notes as they hear them and then to write them down later at their own pace. This app gives each student the freedom to work in more than one way. Students can also record ideas for projects that can be saved in their notes or even sent to the group to share with one another outside of class. Students can take this anywhere they can bring their phone or portable device because it is just an app that is easily installed at no charge.
ISTE Standards – 2.Communuication and collaboration (a,b)
PowToon: An animated illustration software that allows students to use their creativity and knowledge to create a presentation. They can include videos, voice recordings and various pictures and animations to make it their own. This program allows the student to express their individuality how they learned the lesson and while giving the teacher an idea of their level of understanding on the lesson.
ISTE Standards – 1. Creativity and innovation (b,c,d), 3. Research and information fluency (c), 4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making (b)
WeVideo: This is a video recording tool that can be accessed as a website or through a mobile app. The students can create a video of themselves for projects and save them to the site. Their video can then be accessed by the teacher from the site. This site has a section created especially for education purposes so anything the students record and save is protected. WeVideo can be utilized by any age group so it would be perfect for a third grade classroom. ISTE Standards – 1. Creativity and innovation (b,c,d)
Pros and Cons
As with anything technology-based, differentiated instruction comes with its own set of pros and cons. There are many ways differentiated instruction can be introduced to a classroom, not all include technology usage. Classrooms can be broken down into groups or teams or the lesson plan can be created using tiered assignments that cater to each students’ learning level individually. Another method is station teaching where each student can visit an area that is set up to teach a specific part of the lesson using specific tools (Tools for Schools, n.d.). This allows students the freedom to explore and learn the lesson at their own pace. Integrating technology in each of these learning methods will enhance the learning experience for each student and it creates an opportunities outside of the classroom through distant learning (Tools for Schools, n.d.). Technology-based instruction is an effective tool because many software programs are made to assess students based on their individual abilities (Cobb, 2010), allowing them to excel at their own pace. However, technology based instruction does not come without flaws. Technology is ever changing, and for most of the older generation it is still relatively new. This requires ongoing training and professional development on the proper use of both the technology literacy and how to properly apply it to the classroom (Cobb, 2010). Many schools do not have the manpower or the resources for such training.
Concluding Paragraph
Differentiated instruction caters to all types of students’ learning levels by adjusting the lesson to everyone’s needs. Technology is useful in enhancing the learning experience for students, but requires a great deal of resources that many school districts cannot currently manage. Whether technology is used or not, creating a lesson plan involving differentiated instruction enables the students to learn in their own learning styles and at their own pace. As a teacher, student success is the ultimate goal; by using these tools, that goal can be achieved.
References:
Cobb, A. (2010). To differentiate or not to differentiate? Using internet-based technology in the classroom. Quarterly Review Of Distance Education [serial online]. Spring2010 2010;11(1):37-45. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 25, 2015
Education World. (2013). Cool Tech Tools for Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech-tools-for-differentiated-instruction.shtml
ISTE. (2015). ISTE Standards for Students. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/ISTE-standards/standards-for-students
Louisiana State Standards. (2015). Science. Retrieved from http://www.louisianabelieves.com/docs/default-source/academic-standards/standards---k-12-science.pdf?sfvrsn=4
Tools for Schools. (n.d.) Differentiated Instruction-A Tool for All Students. Material Resource. Retrieved from http://troup612resources.troup.k12.ga.us/strategies_resources/differentiation/resourcesdiffinstr.pdf