CHAPTER 2: DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING WITH EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Essential Questions

(You should be able to answer these after studying this part of the chapter.)
Why should I differentiate my instruction for my students? (think beyond: students learn differently)
What does meaningful differentiation look like in a real classroom?
Which teaching strategies can I employ to meet my students’ individual needs?
In what ways might I use technology to differentiate my instruction for my students?

Differentiated Learning with Educational Technology

Differentiated instruction is recognizing and being responsive to different learning needs of individuals and small groups of students. The website Differentiation Central offers an excellent flow chart of the process. Access the full website at http://differentiationcentral.com/model/.

The Teaching Channel website offers a series of videos for new teachers, one in which differentiated instruction is detailed: watch “New Teacher Survival Guide: Differentiation” https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/differentiating-instruction. In the video “7th Grade Social Studies: Using Learning Menus” https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/differentiating-instruction-strategy, the Teaching Channel website demonstrates a specific strategy for differentiating.

Tomlinson’s Differentiated Instruction Model (2010) is based on six elements:

• High-quality curriculum – identifying exactly what you want the students to know, understand, and be able to do at a rigorous and challenging level
• Continual assessment – using pre-assessments to determine what the students already know, understand and are able to do as well as where their interests lie; using formative assessments to determine when and how re-teaching needs to be done; and using summative assessments to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned
• Respectful tasks – All tasks should be challenging, interesting and worth doing. If some students are engaged in this type of work while others are completing drill and practice workshop, there is disrespect happening.
• Building community – The differentiated learning community must be a safe, accepting, risk-free environment where failure and learning from it is celebrated. Therefore, it is necessary for the teacher to insure that all learners understand and respect the process of differentiating instruction.
• Flexible grouping – At any given time, students may work individually, as a whole group, or in small groups or with a partner based on interests (similar or dissimilar) or readiness to learn (similar or dissimilar).
• Teaching up – Tomlinson (2010) notes that all students should be challenged to work up to the level just above his or her current competence. Differentiation is NOT about “dumbing down” the content for some students but not for others.

The Differentiated Instruction Teachers’ Guide (2007) offers four areas where differentiation can occur:

• Content – All students in your class will be expected to master the given curriculum standards (Oklahoma Content Standards, currently–used to be CCSS, PASS), but you can provide them different paths to gaining that knowledge. A pre-assessment is critical to determine what current knowledge and skill have already been mastered by individuals so the teacher can then determine which paths need to be made available.
• Process – Different methods can be employed based on the idea that how students learn best can be different. Many teachers use a “menu” of activities for students to choose the process they believe will work best for them.
• Products – Each student needs to demonstrate mastery of a standard or objective, but they may be able to demonstrate that mastery in a very different way than their classmates. A very clear summative assessment tool, like a rubric focused on what the student knows, understands and is able to do, is critical.
• Learning Environment – The learning environment in a differentiated classroom includes both physical and social/emotional aspects. The physical space may include adjustments to lighting, noise, types of furniture, and equipment. The social/emotional environment must be built upon respect for individual differences and supportive classroom management.

Judith Dodge (2009, p. 9, http://www.slideshare.net/robertojosephgalvan/25-quickformativeassessments) offers a helpful chart to help teachers address student needs at different levels of readiness:

Technology in the classroom is crucial to the success of a differentiated classroom. Read the Educational Leadership article and watch the video interview with Carol Ann Tomlinson at http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar13/vol70/num06/From-Gadget-to-Gift.aspx.

To bring it all together, select videos from this Differentiation Central website: http://differentiationcentral.com/videos/

ISTE-T-Standards

2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

• Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the ISTE·S.
  • a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
  • b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
  • c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
  • d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

• Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
  • b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

Resources

Atomic Learning https://secure2.atomiclearning.com/sso/shibboleth/okstate
Ian Byrd’s The (new) Differentiator http://byrdseed.com/differentiator/
Cool Tools Digital Differentiation http://d97cooltools.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/digital-differentiation-get-wired.html
Andy Warner (UK teacher) blogpost on differentiation http://andywarner78.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/why-weve-got-differentiation-wrong/
Ministry of Education. (2007). Differentiated instruction teacher’s guide: Getting to the core of teaching and learning. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.
Tomlinson, C.A. & Imbeau, M.B. (2010). Leading and managing a differentiated classroom. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Cybraryman’s Differentiated Instruction resources http://www.cybraryman.com/differentiated.html
Five Ways Technology in the Classroom is Changing Education http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/5-Ways-Technology-in-the-Classroom-is-Changing-Education