1. Differentiating Instruction in the Online Classroom ETLO Fall Webinar Dr. Jackie Mangieri MVPS Facilitator/Peer Coach jackie_mangieri@yahoo.com

2. Goals for this Webinar Define differentiated instruction and its applicability for online teaching and learning Discover options for differentiating content, process, and products in the online classroom Discuss ideas and action steps for differentiating instruction in your online classroom

3. What is Differentiated Instruction? Multiple approaches to the curriculum Learner-centered and flexible Qualitative and tied to assessment outcomes Dynamic

4. Differentiated Instruction In short, differentiated instruction is an approach in which teachers can vary * Content * Process * Products According to their students’ * Readiness * Interests * Learning profiles

5. What isn’t DI? A new idea or a passing fad Individualized instruction A rigid grouping strategy Making assignments a little bit easier or a little bit harder Something that only is applicable in the face-to- face classroom!

6. What does this mean for online? DI is concerned with student readiness for specific learning tasks. Consider the work of Vygotsky (1978) – the zone of proximal development (ZPD) ATHERTON J S (2005) Learning and Teaching: Constructivism in learning [On-line] UK: Available: http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/constructivism.htm Accessed: 19 July 2007

7. Differentiating Content Content is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes we want students to learn. Learning tasks and objectives must be aligned to overall learning goals. Instruction should be concept-focused.

8. Strategies for Differentiating Content Online Curriculum compacting Learning contracts Minilessons Varied text and resource materials Conditional releases Podcasting

9. Differentiating Process Process refers to the learning activities or strategies that allow students to explore the essential understandings and key concepts and principles. Effective activities move students from their current level of understanding to a more complex understanding.

10. Strategies for Differentiating Process Online Blogs Graphic organizers Choice charts Flexible pacing Peer teaching Wikis

11. Differentiating Products Differentiating products involves varying the complexity of the products that students create to demonstrate mastery of the essential understandings and key concepts. All students deserve an interesting and engaging learning experience that requires high-level thinking.

12. Strategies for Differentiating Products Online Use many assessment strategies Vary expectations and requirements Plan appropriate scaffolding Determine how products will be shared Provide guidelines to students

13. Questions?

14. Discussion How are you already meeting the unique needs of your individual students? What differentiation strategy would you like to try? How can you encourage your students’ strengths? What is a good first step you can take?

15. Resources for Online Learning NACOL - http://www.nacol.org/http://www.nacol.org/ SREB Online Teachers - http://www.srebonlineteachers.org/ http://www.srebonlineteachers.org/ K12 Online Conference - http://k12onlineconference.org/ http://k12onlineconference.org/ Cool Cat Teacher’s Blog - http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/ http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/

16. Web Resources for DI http://www.education- world.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy042.shtml (good overview with links to learning more) http://www.education- world.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy042.shtml http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiating.ht ml (overview of DI) http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiating.ht ml http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiatinglink s.html (links) http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiatinglink s.html http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiatingstra tegies.html (strategies) http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiatingstra tegies.html http://www.internet4classrooms.com/di.htm (links to DI and related resources) http://www.internet4classrooms.com/di.htm http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_diffinstruc.ht ml (great article about DI) http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_diffinstruc.ht ml