Technology Strategies to Differentiate Instruction Hampton Township School District August 24, 2006 Dr. Robert Isherwood

Differentiated Instruction and Technology Integration 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. 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.

What is differentiated Instruction? Teachers begin where the students are, recognizing individual differences Teachers begin where the students are, recognizing individual differences Engage students in different modalities Engage students in different modalities Use varied rates of instruction, complexity levels, and teaching strategies Use varied rates of instruction, complexity levels, and teaching strategies Challenge students to compete against themselves in order to learn and grow Challenge students to compete against themselves in order to learn and grow

Major Components of Differentiated Instruction Pre-assessment/Post Assessment Pre-assessment/Post Assessment Instruction Instruction Independent and Group Work Independent and Group Work Flexible Groups Flexible Groups –by learning profile –by interest –by readiness nstruc.html nstruc.html nstruc.html nstruc.html

Ways to Differentiate Product Product - the way in which a students knowledge is assessed - the way in which a students knowledge is assessed Process Process - the way in which a student gains access to knowledge - the way in which a student gains access to knowledge Content Content -the depth/complexity of the knowledge base a student explores -the depth/complexity of the knowledge base a student explores

Why Technology? Existence of wide gaps in student experiences and abilities Existence of wide gaps in student experiences and abilities Students are motivated to use technology Students are motivated to use technology Flexibility of the medium Flexibility of the medium Prepares students for the future Prepares students for the future

Pre-assessment Technology Ideas Teachers can use technology to create interesting pre-assessment activities to determine what skills students have already mastered. Teachers can use technology to create interesting pre-assessment activities to determine what skills students have already mastered. A great website to create pre-assessment activities is A great website to create pre-assessment activities is This website has technology games and activities, a curriculum guide, a standards finder, and flashcards for practice. This website has technology games and activities, a curriculum guide, a standards finder, and flashcards for practice.

Pre-assessment Technology Ideas is another great website for creating quizzes and tests as well as for developing internet based games is another great website for creating quizzes and tests as well as for developing internet based games You can create any type of test on this site, randomize question order, assign point values to questions, assess case and punctuation, etc. You can create any type of test on this site, randomize question order, assign point values to questions, assess case and punctuation, etc. Thirty day free trial……..check it out! Thirty day free trial……..check it out!

Technology Strategies to Differentiate Content by Interest Web quests are great activities that exist in cyberspace and promote higher level thinking Web quests are great activities that exist in cyberspace and promote higher level thinking OM%20(one%20page%20poster).doc OM%20(one%20page%20poster).doc OM%20(one%20page%20poster).doc OM%20(one%20page%20poster).doc The following three internet sites are examples of webquests that can allow a teacher to differentiate by interest The following three internet sites are examples of webquests that can allow a teacher to differentiate by interest est/home.htm est/home.htm est/home.htm est/home.htm

Technology to Differentiate by Content, Group, and Assessment The following is a differentiate unit in World Cultures that already exists on the web. The topic is China. Teachers can create units such as this one or find more that are already out in cyber space. Check this out! The following is a differentiate unit in World Cultures that already exists on the web. The topic is China. Teachers can create units such as this one or find more that are already out in cyber space. Check this out! ampler.html ampler.html ampler.html ampler.html

Create Rubrics for Performance Based Assessment using Technology Use the Internet to help develop rubrics for performance based activities that challenge students and require higher level thinking skills. Check out these websites: Use the Internet to help develop rubrics for performance based activities that challenge students and require higher level thinking skills. Check out these websites: assess.html assess.html assess.html assess.html

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: 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 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 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 word- processing [Microsoft Word] or mindmapping [Inspiration] software) during guided reading. Students can more easily collaborate. Projecting graphic organizers and templates (made with word- processing [Microsoft Word] or mindmapping [Inspiration] software) 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. Graphic Organizer/Template ideas: identify story parts, create character maps, construct main and supporting idea outlines, respond to reading response forms

Using Technology to Support Literacy Development Use commercially-available electronic books to extend your classroom library with multimedia reading materials. 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: There are lots of resources available and several are bilingual. Research indicates that these resources: Support struggling decoders by "reading to them." Support struggling decoders by "reading to them." Motivate reluctant readers with amusing graphics and sounds. Motivate reluctant readers with amusing graphics and sounds. Add to story comprehension with supplementary literacy activities. 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 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

Using Technology to Develop Writing Skills Support writing by: 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 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 Inspiration or other mindmapping 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. Projecting concept maps using Inspiration or other mindmapping 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

Why use Technology? 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. 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.

Tips for Teachers Using Technology ch/tech227.shtml ch/tech227.shtml ch/tech227.shtml ch/tech227.shtml tml tml tml tml