Differentiated Instruction Using Technology

Learn how to use technology to differentiate by student interest, readiness, ability, learning profile, content, process, and product.

Like Amy Benjamin’s other books, this one is easy to read and simple to implement. It demonstrates that you can manage the complexities of differentiated instruction – and save time -- by using technology as you teach. It showcases classroom-tested activities and strategies which are easy to apply in your own classroom.

This book offers an overview of research on the uniqueness of middle school students and illustrates the importance of using technology to create differentiated lessons, especially with this age group. It lists the fundamental components of DI, student traits that guide DI, and Web 2.0 resources that can help make DI a reality in the middle school classroom. It also includes sample activities for incorporating DI in multiple subjects: math, science, social studies, and language arts. The strategies and lessons in this book will ensure that students receive a tailored education that also prepares them with the technology skills they need for a successful future.

Reviews research on the uniqueness of middle years students and illustrates the importance of using technology to create differentiated lessons, especially with this age group.

This comprehensive resource demonstrates how to combine co-teaching with differentiated instruction for all diverse learners using universal design for learning (UDL) and a unique retrofit approach.

First published in 1995 as How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, this new edition reflects evolving best practices, practitioners' experience, and Tomlinson's ongoing thinking about how to help all students access high-quality curriculum; engage in meaningful learning experiences; and feel safe and valued in their school. Written as a practical guide for teachers, this expanded 3rd edition of Carol Ann Tomlinson's groundbreaking work covers the fundamentals of differentiation and provides additional guidelines and new strategies for how to go about it. You'll learn What differentiation is and why it's essential How to set up the flexible and supportive learning environment that promotes success How to manage a differentiated classroom How to plan lessons differentiated by readiness, interest, and learning profile How to differentiate content, process, and products How to prepare students, parents, and yourself for the challenge of differentiation We differentiate instruction to honor the reality of the students we teach. They are energetic and outgoing. They are quiet and curious. They are confident and self-doubting. They are interested in a thousand things and deeply immersed in a particular topic. They are academically advanced and "kids in the middle" and struggling due to cognitive, emotional, economic, or sociological challenges. More of them than ever speak a different language at home. They learn at different rates and in different ways. And they all come together in our academically diverse classrooms.

Technology is ubiquitous, and its potential to transform learning is immense. The first edition of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works answered some vital questions about 21st century teaching and learning: What are the best ways to incorporate technology into the curriculum? What kinds of technology will best support particular learning tasks and objectives? How does a teacher ensure that technology use will enhance instruction rather than distract from it? This revised and updated second edition of that best-selling book provides fresh answers to these critical questions, taking into account the enormous technological advances that have occurred since the first edition was published, including the proliferation of social networks, mobile devices, and web-based multimedia tools. It also builds on the up-to-date research and instructional planning framework featured in the new edition of Classroom Instruction That Works, outlining the most appropriate technology applications and resources for all nine categories of effective instructional strategies: * Setting objectives and providing feedback * Reinforcing effort and providing recognition * Cooperative learning * Cues, questions, and advance organizers * Nonlinguistic representations * Summarizing and note taking * Assigning homework and providing practice * Identifying similarities and differences * Generating and testing hypotheses Each strategy-focused chapter features examples—across grade levels and subject areas, and drawn from real-life lesson plans and projects—of teachers integrating relevant technology in the classroom in ways that are engaging and inspiring to students. The authors also recommend dozens of word processing applications, spreadsheet generators, educational games, data collection tools, and online resources that can help make lessons more fun, more challenging, and—most of all—more effective.

Daunted by differentiation and devices? Ditching tech isn't the answer--understanding how to find the right tool for the right moment is! Don't Ditch That Tech provides practical ideas to help you find the sweet spot where classroom devices meet students' needs. In this teacher-tailored guide, you'll find tips on how to handle cart/lab scenarios, develop attention-grabbing strategies, build metacognitive practices, and more--all with differentiation in mind. Whether you're a tech newbie or the school's device guru, you'll walk away with new understandings and strategies for transforming and diversifying your approach to teaching in a twenty-first-century world. Authors Matt Miller, Nate Ridgway, and Angelia Ridgway, PhD, bring a diverse range of perspectives to this useful guide. From their own classroom experiences they share practical suggestions for working within your classroom walls--and ultimately, transforming your students' lives beyond it. You'll find ideas for how to use tech to . . . Personalize learning and add authenticity Promote metacognition and student agency Increase students' and stakeholders' access to your classroom And more! DON'T Ditch That Tech! Use it to transform your classroom! "This guide is chock full of tools/apps, graphic images, classroom examples, methods, and practical tips for any classroom educator looking to try new things or further strengthen their current differentiation practices. And it's differentiated for teachers too!" --The HyperDoc Girls (Sarah Landis, Kelly Hilton, and Lisa Highfill) "Do yourself a favor and buy this book! You won't be sorry! Warning: Be prepared to see smiling faces on students and engaged classrooms when you do!" --Holly Clark, author, The Google Infused Classroom "Anecdotes, exemplars and examples abound in this easy-to-read how-to for any teacher!" --Jon Corippo, Chief Learning Officer, Cue, Inc.