Differentiating instruction through technology

1. Differentiating instruction through technology Dr. Sheri McGuffin

2. Essential questions • How can technology be used in the classroom to differentiate instruction? • What are some modes of technology that can be used in the classroom to differentiate instruction? • What are some of the obstacles to integrating technology into the classroom?

3. Modes of technology • Blogs • Wikis • Podcasts • Webquests • Interactive Websites • Assistive Technology • Online graphing calculators • Graphic organizers • United Streaming

4. blogs • What is a blog? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ55f_svLuM&feature=related • Examples • http://www.differentiationcentral.com/blog/

5. wikis • What is a wiki? • Examples • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZfJoUsQqjk&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pR5yogCmkA

6. wikis • Our class wiki • http://www.wikispaces.com/

7. Podcasts • What is a podcast? • Comes from a combination of iPod and broadcasting • You don’t have to have an iPod to listen to a podcast. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBgO30h2cY8 • How to podcast • http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/13-basic-podcasting-software.htm

8. Podcasts • Examples

9. webquests • What is a webquest? • http://www.webquestdirect.com.au/whatis_use.asp • A webquest library • http://www.ccsd.edu/bardonia/Library/webquests.htm

10. Webquests • Parts of a webquest • Introduction • Task • Process • Resources • Evaluation • Conclusion • Reference: • http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index_sub3.html

11. Interactive websites • http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial • LOTS of examples!

12. Website examples • Verbal/Linguistic Learners • http://wordle.net Allow students to express themselves creatively with words • http://ed.voicethread.com Capture student voices with audio, text, pictures, and video • http://zoho.com A free online word processor, and presentation tool • http://gcast.com Students can podcast (voice recording) online. • http://kerpoof.com Students can create stories or mini-movies • http://www2.shidonni.com Students create animated stories

13. Website examples • http://tickatok.com Students can create stories and turn them into a book • http://pbskids.org/wordworld A world where words come alive • http://readwritethink.org 52 interactive activities related to reading, writing, and speaking • http://speakaboos.com Students can read stories online, record their own story and play literacy games

14. Website examples • Logical/Mathematical • http://zoho.com Spreadsheet and data collection tools • http://ed.voicethread.com Capture a sequence of events in an experiment or during problem solving • http://emeraldisland.com A virtual world where students can experiment and problem solve • http://sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk/index.php Comics about science experiments, and problem solving games • http://toytheater.com/index.php Math, reading, music and art puzzles

15. Website examples • http://sciencemuseum.org.uk/launchpad/launchball Logic puzzle games • http://mathplayground.com Students practice math skills and engage in logic games • http://mathtv.org Students watch a series of video word problems for math, watch a step-by-step video solution and work on follow up problems • http://iknowthat.com Games that make students think: science, language arts, math, and thinking games • http://enlightenme.com/enlightenme/superthinkers A site the encourages critical thinking and problem solving

16. Website examples • http://knowitall.org/hobbyshop A hobby shop full of logical-mathematical activities • http://mrsp.com A storybook site that celebrates reading and books Reference: http://theapple.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiate-instruction

17. Assistive technology • iPads • Read/Write Gold • Laptops • Tape Recorders • Graphing Calculators • ANYTHING used to aid a student with specific disabilities is called an assistive technology • Technology tips • http://rtecexchange.edgateway.net/cs/rtecp/view/rtec_str/11

18. Online graphing calculators • http://webgraphing.com/ • http://rentcalculators.org/stheli.html • http://gcalc.net/

19. Graphic organizers • SmartArt • Website references • http://www.graphic.org/goindex.html • http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial

20. United streaming • Discovery Education • http://www.discoveryeducation.com/

21. Additional examples • Prezi • http://prezi.com/ • SmartBoards • Multimedia Projectors • SkyDrive

22. Hints • Take advantage of training! • October 31 Say it loud and clear with presentation software: PowePoint and Prezi (Come this day and I will have special treats to go with the tricks) • November 14 What is out there for younger students? Online tools for Pre-K through 3rd grade • November 21 Online Quickies: Nice and useful online tools that don’t take much time or effort • November 28 Collaboration Tools: OneNote, TitanPad, Dabble Board, etc. • December 5 Teacher Web Sites: Google Sites, Wix, Word Press, Weeble • December 12 Communication Tools: Advanced Email, Calendar, and SkyDrive

23. Exit slip • Respond: • What are some ways that teachers you have observed have used technology in their classrooms? • Would you consider the uses to be effective or ineffective? • How could the method be improved to provide more thorough differentiation?

24. homework • Create a Prezi to describe differentiated instruction in the classroom. • http://prezi.com/