Technology+and+Differentiated+Instruction

Technology and Differentiated Instruction: Symbiosis http://tech4di.wikispaces.com/

Session #BH30 Technology and Differentiated Instruction: Symbiosis Bill Dolton

Began by polling the group – what are our jobs? What do we know about differentiated instruction. Modeled differentiated instruction with technology for us. We were encouraged to blog or twitter during the presentation- play the slide show from our laptops. He proposed we think about digital natives and digital immigrants (technology is not their first language).

Posed to the group: What are the attributes of a digital native? Responses: - born in digital age - multitasker - millenial - life experience with technology - higher degree of comfort and experience with technology

Posed to the group: How would a digital native approach a new piece of software? Responses: Play with it... learn by doing... read the manual? NO!

Important to note: The kids we work with now by birth are born in the digital age but may not all fit the profile.. some may act more like digital immigrants. Access is key to comfort levels.

Next we looked at models or ways of viewing the process of becoming a digital native. Exploring the inquiry line How and why do people learn and use technology?

ACOT- an Apple study found that you have to immerse students in the technology at school and at home. This study looked at the process of adopting technology as stages.

Entry- little to no use Adoption – minimal productivity use Adaption – productivity use embraced Appropriation – full adoption Invention- new uses, shares with others
 * ACOT Stages of Adoption:**

Non use, orientation, preparation Mechanical, routine Refinement, Integration and Renewal
 * CBAM Concerns Based Model** - people adapt technology as they need and want it - this will determine their support needs
 * need direction and support
 * confident use
 * expanding into sophisticated uses

Early adopters Early majority Large majority Laggards: resistance, avoidance
 * Rogers Adoption of Innovation** ( Innovators- always on the cutting edge)

We need to consider these models to help us understand our students.

Consider: How do your students differ in the ways they think about and use technology? How does relative access impact where we find students? What does this imply for classroom technology use? How can we differentiate the use of technology?

Comment from the group: the lack of Universal Design in technology makes this difficult, especially for special needs kids.

What kinds of things do we need to think about when we use these tools?
 * Can our kids get access?
 * Can they all use them?
 * Can they use them safely and well?

Good reference: [|gotoweb2.0.net] - attempts to catelog web 2.0 tools

Remember a lot of these are boutique applications – specially designed to meet a specific need or user group – you can pick and choose options for your tools based on your own preferences. This can also be overwhelming.

What are some ways we can use technology for differentiation?

Idea: allow kids to use varied web tools for culminating portion of a project This also allows kids to experience a variety of things over time and get to know the tools- models multiple ways to express themselves

Note- valuable resources on the tech for differentiation wiki. Includes external links and resources, recommended readings, online resources for differentiated instruction, lists of technologies to help differentiate including assistive technologies.

[]

This is a goldmine!!!

Big Idea here: Important to challenge students. He prefers turning “project based learning” into “challenge based learning”

Components of challenge based learning: student autonomy realism constructivism driving questions centrality to curriculum

How can we facilitate effective challenge based learning?

Comment: one potential roadblock: student attitude “tell me what you want and I will produce it”

This is a new model that is different from the current ideas about learning, which usually involves an expert passing out knowledge with teaching patterns around breaking down a task into steps and teaching the steps. The presenter feels that giving step by step instruction is just giving them the fish for the day- not the fishing pole

“I will slow down as much as you need me to so that you can develop the steps”

As teachers we don't want to take a risk – parents will be confused – doesn't fit teach to the test push. We need to change minds- how do you change minds?

By modeling – by example – trust yourself – trust others – establish a climate where you can take risk and try things – we need to do this as teachers so that we model it for kids.

Discussion acknowledged that there are times when we need to impose rules and structure as well however.

Question posed to the group: Will the professional development need for technology ever go away? Responses/Discussion: don't know where there is a point where it goes away – but would be great to have it integrated into what we are doing

Will there be a time when all teachers are comfortable and confident using digital tools for learning?

Discussion: most said yes -some said no

How is this a function of access??

Important note: need to differentiate professional development as well as student instruction