Assessment can be a horrifying word for teachers and students. However, culminating assessments can be more successful if teachers consistently use formative assessments or checkpoint activities. Formative assessment can occur without or without technology! The goal is to check where students are in the moment in comparison to where they need to be in the future. I have included a great poster! The blogger has included their blog website at the bottom of the poster. I challenge you to use a non technology assessment first followed by a technology infused assessment. My personal favorites are the exit ticket and easypolls.net
LEARNING PREFERENCE
A large component of Differentiated Instruction is learning styles (multiple intelligences). Are you thinking, "That's nice! What am I supposed to do with that?" I hope you are! Students learn best when their strengths are tapped! If you asked me to create an academic game with the core principles of basketball I would absolutely fail. However, if you asked me to write a story or a song, I would succeed. Do you know your learning preference? Check out this quiz. These results do not mean that you have to abandon your teaching methods. However, you may consider adding some activities and choices for students. Rather than ask everyone to write a report, you could allow students to write a report, a song, create a poster, create a graphic organizer, create a movie or act out a scene. "Wait! I cannot grade those in a stack while riding in a car!!" Have a presentation day. Public speaking is a skill that needs developed! You, the teacher, can have a rubric ready for assessing each student or group. Even better, allow for peer review! "Still.... Why should I even consider differentiation learning?" Think about it this way. Did someone TELL you what your career was going to be? Were you allowed to explore options and develop your strengths? Most likely the answer is, "I chose my own career." So, why do we always tell students that they must show their understanding of a concept through a cookie cutter assignment or exam? Something to consider! Multiple Intelligences and Technology: Graphic Organizer with Apps According to Intelligence Differentiated Instruction is the latest focus in education. Why is it so important? Simply stated, DI focuses on how the student learns, what they need to learn and how to assess what they have learned. In the end, the teacher focuses on modifying lessons to ensure that every student is learning. This may require teaching a single concept in a variety of ways. Group A may be visual and love singing while Group B is aural but loves hands on activity. Regardless Differentiation is a change in mindset and method: "Differentiated Instruction is teaching with the child in mind rather than adopting a standardized approach to teaching and learning that seems to presume that all students of a given age are at the exact same place academically. DI is responsive teaching." (http://www.tolerance.org/differentiated-instruction) This is not an easy task for any teacher, seasoned or new. It takes an extensive amount of time, research and preparation. The great news is that Technology can enhance and improve student learning and teacher assessment. Before technology was available to my students, I spent hours creating choice boards, manipulatives and multiple assessments. Once technology was available, my time was spent searching for digital tools and apps that fit the needs of individual or groups of students. I did not have to create digital the activities. Rather, I had to collect digital resources and organize them in a manner that would be productive for all students. A great website for information, research and tools is Tech4DI. The most beneficial portion of this website is the "Technology Tools by DI Component". This page allows you to search for tools by content, interest, learning profile, process, product and readiness. Another great resource can be found on Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners. It is a presentation that provides planning tools as well as tools for differentiation. Differentiation can change the educational experience for a student. In fact, it can change their path in life. So think about!!!
Technology is an integral part of students' lives. Experience has enlightened us to know that relevancy affords for student interest. I cannot think of anything more relevant than technology: Tablets, computers, apps and more!!!! |
Maria SellerseLearning Specialist at Archives
April 2014
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