Differentiation and TechnologyVicky O’Boyle

Three principles from brain research: emotional safety, appropriate challenges, and self constructed meaning suggest that a one-size-fits-all

approach to classroom instruction teaching is ineffective for most students and harmful to some."  ~Tomlinson 1998

Feel alone?

Find people in your building to work with. Learning with technology is always more fun when you have support!

Even though the spots look similar…. they are all different.

We have to teach children the same way…..differently.

Web 2.0 & Differentiation

•Start simple

•Explore tools that can be seamless not forced

•Differentiate by Interest

•Differentiate by Readiness

•Differentiate by Product

•Differentiate by Content

Start Simple

•Conduct a learning profile survey using Google Docs, Zoomerang, Surveymonkey, or fo.reca.st. If you’re stuck here are some samples

•Set up a social bookmarking account to help you connect with other teachers and their resources. Diigo or Delicious.

Differentiate by Interest

Students whose interests are tapped and deepened in school are more likelyto be engaged and to persist in learning.

Tomlinson, 2003

Seamless & Basic Integration

•Explore tools that can be easily integrated into your curriculum

•Math Games, Writing, Science, Social Studies, Spelling

•More readiness resources

Differentiate by Readiness

Differentiate by Product

Voicethread Samples

Read/Write/Think

Digital Storytelling

Glogster

Differentiate by Content

• Compacting• A research based way of accelerating instruction that enables students to

skip work they already know and learn more challenging curriculum .

•Scaffolding• The process by which students are given extra support until they

learn a new skill and can do it independently.

• Varying resources through which students learn the content

Summative Assessment

•Blogs/WIkis

•Podcasting

•Google Docs

•Electronic Portfolios

Things to Consider

•Language proficiency

•Background experiences

•Motivation

•Technology available

•Support

•Learning styles, abilities, and interests

•Never give up and stick your neck out to learn something new!