Technology to Enhance Differentiated Instruction
Differentiating Instruction with Technology in K–5 Classrooms authors Grace E. Smith and Stephanie Throne have just published their second book, Differentiating Instruction with Technology in Middle School Classrooms. No matter what age group you’re working with, Smith and Throne have great advice on how technology can assist differentiated instruction. Take, for example, this excerpt from their K–5 book:
“Teachers can use a variety of technology tools to address the needs of their students. In fact, technology is so powerful a tool that many teachers underestimate its capabilities to help differentiate instruction.
“How can technology help differentiate instruction? First, technology is a patient, accommodating teacher that can “tutor” students until they learn. Second, technology can also bring exciting real-world projects into the classroom. Third, technology can provide scaffolds and tools to support and enhance learning.
“In the case of differentiating by readiness, technology is unsurpassed because it allows learning to be personalized. Here are some ways teachers can use technology to differentiate by readiness:
- Teachers can use technology to create or access a survey tool to determine readiness.
- Teachers can use technology with flexible grouping so that like students can employ software appropriate to their readiness level. For example, reading software can be structured to meet the needs of individual learners who are reading at different levels of understanding.
- Teachers can use technology to create tiered assignments and compact instruction.
- Teachers can use technology as a delivery strategy for subject matter content. For example, a WebQuest or Internet search can be designed with struggling, at-level, and above-level students in mind.
- Teachers can use technology as an independent learning tool. Software programs such as 2Create A Story or Early Learning Toolkit (both products by 2simple) have been designed with young children in mind. Their navigation tools are straightforward and similar in each of the company’s programs. These software programs are great for independent learning if children are given a task (create a story and make a picture to fit with the story) and shown how to save their work.
- Teachers can use technology to create and tailor KWL charts or graphic organizers to match the level of readiness of individual students or groups of students.”
How have you used technology to differentiate instruction? What tools have you used and how has it benefited your student’s learning experience?
Copyright 2007, ISTE ® (International Society for Technology in Education), Differentiating Instruction with Technology for K–5 Classrooms, Grace E. Smith and Stephanie Throne. 1.800.336.5191 or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), iste@iste.org, www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Distribution and copying of this excerpt is allowed for educational purposes and use with full attribution to ISTE.
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