Chapter 10

  PROMOTING SUCCESS TO ALL STUDENTS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

      FOCUS QUESTION:

What are differentiated instruction (DI) and universal design for learning (UDL)?

Every student within the same classroom can benefit from strategies that are able to strengthen their learning and help them overcome their weaknesses. Differentiated Instruction (DI) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offer to teachers essential structures to adapt the curriculum and adjust their teaching style to reach all type of students.

-DI is a teaching approach that allows several options to students for receiving instruction and understand ideas. Therefore, educators have the latitude to create and  improvise different educational experiences to meet students’ specific needs. Integrate this strategy in their teaching, require from teachers to start up a lesson with interesting points engaging their students and stimulating their participations. A History teacher for example, may organize his class by having some students working on a segment of the lesson to create a Power Point,  another small group may be working on summarizing the chapter in a Word document, a third group may represent it with a colorful drawing, and a fourth group may prepare a skit to perform for the class. The teacher needs to know the strong and weak points of the students, to allow the activity to succeed and the entire class to benefit from it. Also diverse groups, such as ELL, ESE, Gifted and Talented Students may be mixed with the regular population. Choosing to pair an ELL (English Language Learner)  with a bilingual student will allow the one having language impairment to find a translator, and also learn by observing the other student. Moreover, several students may work on the creation of the lesson’s summary, and the one with better spelling and technical skill would do the typing. Creative students with better artistic abilities would present a poster to the class, and kinetic and/or extrovert students may work together to perform in a skit.

DI presents to educators the challenge to get the necessary tools, the time and the resources to diversify instruction in ways that will meet the different learning styles and preferences of students.

-UDL derived from an architectural concept of design that allow functionality for all types of users. Examples are features giving access to slanted levels, like a ramp and wheelchair access. Apply to learning, this concept means to facilitate students with special needs by helping them understand any concepts regardless of their impediments. Extensive research in Neuroscience and special technologies available today, facilitate the application of UDL. Three primary aspects are defined by the Center for Applied Special Technology (2006).

·         Multiple means of representation: Present information and content in different ways.

·         Multiple means of expression: Differentiate the ways that students can express what they know.

·         Multiple means of engagement: Stimulate interest and motivation for learning.

The goal of UDL is to decrease the barriers to learning, and increase the learning

opportunities to all students. Hehir stated that the purpose of UDL is, “full participation and access for students with disabilities while providing individualized options for all” (Hehir, 2005, p. 99).  As an example, in an English class a teacher might use PowerPoint to present vocabulary words and definitions that are discussed by the regular students, while the hearing impaired child can see, read, and take notes. Such a strategy may also be  beneficial for any students who might have unrecognized challenges, as well as for many regular students who can better recall the information due to the integration of visual, and auditory tools in the lesson.

TECH TOOL:

Extra-Large and Online Calculators.

Extra large calculators created by Kikkerland are lightweight, provide basic mathematical functions, and are easier to use than regular small hand held calculators. Their large function keys help students with visual impairments, and also many regular students because their easy to spot keys allow faster clicking.

On-line calculators are used daily in today's classrooms, due to their easy access from cell phones and iPhones. They can serve to stimulate Math learning, because they connect written equations with what students can do by hand using physical objects. Jim Martindale’s Calculators On-line Center feature links to several calculation programs, many with simulations and teaching modules.

I can see the good use of  the extra large calculator by Kikkerland and the Jim Martindale’s calculator on-line Center, in an ESE, an ELL, or a diverse population classroom.

 CHAPTER TEN SUMMARY:

One of the most important aspect of teaching is that all students must have equal opportunity to learn. Therefore teachers have to fashion the experience in a way that every student in a classroom learns to the best of their abilities. Several new resources offer by technology and by the progress of Neuroscience, give to educators many tools to take advantage of.

-Differentiated Instruction (DI), means educational experiences modified in a way that students with different abilities can understand and learn concepts taught in class. It includes teachers using different methods and technology to provide for the special needs of the students.

-Universal Design for Learning (UDL) includes the different tools used in a classroom that enable educators to reach out to a diverse population of learners.

Learning concepts is not the only area of importance in the school. Writing is also considered as a neglected area in education. The process of writing that gave successful results are pre-writing/brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

The idea of having a group of learners with different abilities working together on a subject, might create a positive influence on each of them.

All the opportunities offer by technology can be exploited by teachers as resources to improve gaps and transform different areas of the education field. Most of all, teachers can be more effective by using the abundant resources of technology, and accommodate all students in the learning environment.