1. Using Technology as a Tool in the Differentiated Classroom Doing “whatever it takes to ensure that struggling and advanced learners, students with varied cultural heritages, and children with different background experiences all grow as much as they possibly can each day, each week, and throughout the year.” Carol Ann Tomlinson
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24. Heartland AEA’s Searchable Online Web Site Databases Math: http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/URLCurriculumpage/Math.html Language Arts: http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/URLCurriculumpage/language%20arts.html Science: http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/URLCurriculumpage/Science.html Social Studies: http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/URLCurriculumpage/Social%20Studies.html Reading: http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/URLCurriculumpage/Reading.html Technology: http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/URLCurriculumpage/technology.html
Integrating technology can meet these differentiated instruction strategies--Students can work with at a variety of levels using online databases and the Internet. They can work and take in information either individually or in groups through their own style of learning.
Technology does involve active student engagement. It gets students to question and ask deeper questions like “What if…? Students can locate information outside the regular textbook and classroom materials. Technology can help students understand difficult concepts by giving them audio and visual aids. And of course technology is a great way to present information and because students today are digital natives technology is second nature to them--they enjoy it and it motivates them in their learning.
Technology addresses the writing and research process by giving students the opportunity to plan, etc. These also move the students into higher order thinking skills. The crucial skills of collecting, graphing, etc data can be achieved through the use of technology resources. And an important concept that really helps students learn is making their learning personally relevant.
We are going to give you just a brief overview of each of the Iowa AEA online databases and give you some ideas about how you can use them to meet the diverse needs of students and differentiate with technology.
With technology, students get involved in real tasks that support their cognitive and learning styles and give them pride and ownership in their work. They have an incredible amount of information, including primary sources, right at their fingertips to research and use critical thinking and problem solving skills.