RTEC at WestEd
has worked in partnership with the Alliance for Technology Access to
create this website, a Powerpoint presentation, handouts for each tip,
and more. The site has migrated to www.wested.org/tdl.
Technology
Tips are:
- focused on technologies most schools
already have
- for use in professional development of
technology - for general and
special educators, and staff
Training on this
topic is available through WestEd and can include
- customization for any group or grade level
- hands-on activities
- correlation with adopted materials
- a PDF tip sheet for each tip
Differentiated Instruction
" is a model of
instruction that revolves around the belief that
students learn
in many different ways."
(Verde, 2004)
It includes
- Providing materials
and tasks at varied levels of difficulty with varying degrees
of scaffolding, through multiple instructional groups.
- Encouraging
student success by varying ways in which students work: alone or
collaboratively, in auditory or visual modes, or through practical or
creative means. (Tomlinson,
2000)
For example, you
might ask student to rank their preferences for learning math:
- Using manipulatives
- Observing demonstrations
- Sketching out the problem
- Reading
- Comparing work with a partner
- Solving problems as a
team
(Strong, R., 2004)
Why differentiate instruction?
- Because not all children learn in the same way.
- Because NCLB says all children need to become
proficient.
- Because research and practice demonstrate that
differentiated
instruction techniques are effective.
- Because we can maximize student's growth by
meeting each student
where he or she is and helping them progress.
- Because of the diversity of students found in
today's classrooms. (ELL, disabilities, and cultural backgrounds)
Thinking
of your students...
- Who is reading below grade level?
- Who struggles in comprehending written
instructions and text?
- Who has difficulty following oral instructions
or a discussion?
- Who has problems organizing information?
- Who leaves out words or makes grammatical
errors in writing?
Technology can help you tailor
instruction to meet the needs of all students by allowing changes to:
- content
- channels of input, and
- means of output.
Technology is also an
excellent platform for cooperative learning.
For information on using specific technologies for differentiated
instruction, click on the Tips links under Topics in the top left
column.
| |
|
Topics
