Topic 2: Assessing Technology- Based Resources for Differentiation

The online blog platform that I picked to use was called Blogger, this is a platform for new bloggers and those who are just starting to write their first blog. I want to talk to you today about three current technologies that can be used to appropriately support differentiated instruction and enrich students learning styles. The first is called “flipping the classroom” this has been a very successful resource that I have used in my high school history class with my students. Flipping the classroom refers to us as the teacher are the student and our students teach us the content.

Second, I use presentation software such as PowerPoint for my instruction, and students are required to use a form of this when giving presentations about their history topic. This allows for students to see visual the information on a screen that they would be able to benefit from. Third, I will introduce this fall podcast to my classroom for my students to take part in for those who learn better with listen rather than seeing the content. I have seen many high school teachers find success in using podcasts to deliver instruction to their students via their smartphones.

In regards to the ease of use of each of these three different technology platforms, first, flipping the classroom is a term that has been used for a long time. When using this in your classroom, make sure students are prepared to get a presentation. I have found this to be a “free” a cost-effective way for students to learn the content in a different way knowing they have to give me the information. Second, with the use of PowerPoint presentations/ or another platform, I have been able to change the way my students interact with each other. This is another cost-free a platform that can be used for differentiation. The students can interact with each other and help each other develop slides.

Third, a podcast might cost the district or your classroom some money and time to put together but the rewards are so much better for these students. Podcasts might also cause some issues for students who do not have a phone or device to listen to the podcast. One thing to

keep in mind that is to make sure we are reaching all of our students that could possibly benefit from this. Some of the instructional strategies for each of these could be, flipping the classroom, giving each of my students the ability to speak in front of their peers, and asking us to complete a fill-in-the-blank worksheet that goes along with their lesson. For the PowerPoint visual learners, we could make sure the students have the printed-out PowerPoint with video links to help them understand the content differently. Finally, for the podcast, we could make sure that each student is given a Chromebook if they do not have a device and make sure they are asked to take notes on the podcast from their fellow classmates.

Two of these technologies that promote learning and create ownership of learning among other students would be, flipping of the classroom and Podcasts. Flipping the classroom promotes the students to take action and charge to create their own lesson and to have a basic understanding before teaching others the same information. Similarly, the podcast allows for other students to speak to a mic and not face to face with students but still give the message and teach the subject or content differently for learners who do best with listening to lessons.