blog entry 3 |
Student Centered Technology |
Entry 2: Differentiating Instruction through Technology
Introduction Differentiating instruction through technology helps students achieve more and enhances their knowledge of content being provided by the teacher. Having differentiated instruction is important to the comprehensive classroom technology plan because teachers need to be able to integrate technology in a way that all students can learn. “Attending to student readiness by using technology for differentiating instruction allows for academic growth, enlists student motivation, and enables teachers to attend to the student learning profiles…so that students acquire knowledge in a variety of mediums” (Stanford, Crowe, & Flice, 2010, p.4). Though there are pros and cons of using technology to differentiate instruction, teachers can use technology tools such as computers, clickers, and iPads to differentiate instruction so that students can optimize their learning. Technology to Differentiate Instruction Computers: When it comes to differentiated instruction, teachers can use computers in many different ways that will enhance student achievement. Computers differentiate instruction by using websites that will read the texts for students, using applications such as Power Point for presentations of book reports or projects, and using word processing to type reports (Stanford, Crowe, & Flice, 2010). Students have a greater chance of achieving because they are using assistive or adaptive technology to help them perform tasks that without the technology they would not be able to do. The computer is student centered because it is tailored to performing tasks individually with the help of software and applications. Clickers: Classroom Response systems, or clickers, can be used to differentiate instruction. Teachers can offer multiple choice questions over material that has been discussed in class and the students answer the questions privately without others, besides the teacher, knowing how they answered the questions. Teachers can also use clickers as an assessment tool. The clickers give students who are shy the opportunity to be heard without speaking and the clickers give teachers an assessment of what materials need more attention focused on for the students’ learning and achievement (Kara-Soteriou, 2009). Clickers are student centered because they can individually answer the questions on their clickers and it gives a quick check on what knowledge the students know and what they need to practice. iPads: Teachers can differentiate instruction with the use of iPads because it offers students a choice of a wide array of activities and applications that they can use to enhance their education. When a student uses an iPad they can play educational games that are tiered around the students’ ability and skill levels. Using iPads gives a balance between teacher assigned activities and student selected activities (Kingsley, 2007). With the use of iPads educational games and software, students have the opportunity to practice or gain more knowledge about the material being taught in the classroom. This reinforces knowledge and produces gains in the students’ academic success. Pros and Cons Integrating technology into the classroom to differentiate instruction can have its pros and cons. One pro is that when technology is used to differentiate instruction, all students have the ability to perform the same task but at their own level or pace. The different types of technology also engage the students more and make them eager to learn. “When students are involved in discovery and constructivist learning, the content becomes personalized, and thus more relevant to them” (Gunter & Gunter, 2014, p.243). A con for integrating technology to differentiate instruction is that some teachers do not prepare ahead of time because of a lack of preparation time. The lack of preparation can cause students to not understand how they are to use the technology. Another con is that sometimes teachers rely too much on the technology to teach the students rather than the teacher actually planning the lesson around the curriculum and integrating the technology to assist in the differentiated learning of the students (Gunter & Gunter, 2014). Concluding Paragraph The use of technology tools to differentiate instruction will help all students become more knowledgeable about technology and how it can enhance student learning. Teachers begin this process by planning ways to integrate technology into the lesson in order to accommodate all students in the classroom. If teachers take the time to plan and implement technology into the classroom, they will see their students more engaged in the lesson and making strides in their education. Using differentiated instruction with computers, clickers, and iPads is only a notch in the broad spectrum of technology, but it is a start to the vast knowledge that all students can be a part of. References: Gunter, G. A., & Gunter, R. E. (2014). Teachers discovering computers integrating technology in a changing world. Retrieved from http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/cengage/2014/teachers-discovering-computers_integrating-technology-in-a-changing-world_ebook_8e.php Kara-Soteriou, J. (2009). Using technology to differentiate instruction across grade levels. New England Reading Association Journal, 44(2), 86-90. Kingsley, K. V. (2007). 20 Ways to …Empower Diverse Learners with Educational Technology and Digital Media. Intervention in School & Clinic, 43(1), 52-56. Stanford, P., Crowe, M. W., & Flice, H. (2010). Differentiating with Technology. Teaching Exceptional Children Plus, 6(4), 1-9.
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