#G Promoting Success for All Students through Technology

Differentiated Instruction is an instructional approach in which students learn according to their individual learning style.  Choice of preferred activity can empower and instill confidence in students.  At the end of the learning cycle each of the groups will represent what they have learned.  It is necessary for teachers to constantly make formative assessments in order to adapt to student needs.

                                                  Photo Credit: Private Prep Inc


Universal Design for Learning, according to (Heir & Katzman, 2012), attempts to "create teaching and learning situations that serve the needs of the widest range of students without diminishing or reducing opportunities for anyone."  Universal design encourages students to participate in not only their own learning style, but others as well. There is certainly overlap in learning styles and making every style available to every student is a sound practice.

These approaches need not be independent of one another.  In fact they are quite complimentary.  Understanding differentiated instruction is necessary for creating a universal design.  Likewise, in universal design, it is important to consider the students strengths.  Used in concert, these approaches can be very effective. 

                                            Created by TS using Wordclouds.com
                                                          Happy Halloween!

Word clouds, like the one above, visually represent text in a way that is engaging.  I love word clouds for their ability to cross boundaries of learning styles.  It is a simple image that creates visual appeal, yet conveys the message.  I find myself studying the images to find the text for understanding.  Besides, they look pretty neat.

Assistive Technology applies technological convergence to the ways that information technologies enable teachers to differentiate instruction and pursue universal design.  Assistive technology makes it possible for students with disabilities to keep pace with their peers.  Even though this technology is often developed to assist students with disabilities, all students may benefit from the technology in the classroom.


Sources:

Hehir, T., & Katzman, L. I. (2012). Effective inclusive schools: Designing successful schoolwide programs. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc