Digital Badge #G

Chapter 10

Promoting Success for All Students through Technology

After reading this chapter I decided to choose three great concepts to reflect upon.

1.) Connecting Classrooms with Communities and Cultures

2.) Differentiated Instruction

3.) Universal Design for Learning

Connecting classrooms with communities and cultures is a great way of letting students see the world.  By creating this connection teachers are able to show their students first hand what different cultures are like within their own communities.  Teachers can create amazing projects for students to do.  They could have students look throughout their own communities for certain cultures and traditions. Then have them research other cultures online and compare and contrast each culture with their own communities.  This not only shows students the cultures around the world, but teaches them   about them.  Students would be amazed to learn that many of the traditions around the world exist in their communities.

Differentiated Instruction is a confusing yet necessary strategy for teachers into days world.  Teachers need to realize that all students and not the same so they do not all learn they same.  Some students are more advanced in areas where other students may be way behind.  Teachers need to beware of these students and allow there lessons plans to change when it comes to these students.  Teachers should examine each student separately to understand why they are who they are and it will help you understand them and how they may learn.  I read an amazing article that I have attached that explains how teachers should allow for variations of there assignments or be prepared for students that may fall behind.  I have attached the article I read along with a great video I found.

Defining Differentiated Instruction

Article about helping teachers prepare for differentiated instruction.

Universal design is an architectural term that has been redesign for learning.  It is a concept to help schools design a learning method that helps all student succeed.  This is done by creating a lesson plan that is broad yet structured.  Teachers need to allow of flexibility within a lesson that will teach and help all students succeed in learning new subjects.  Teachers can do this by providing multiple ways for students to acquire information, as well as have multiple ways of demonstrating the information.  Teachers also need to give the students appropriate challenges and provide motivation.

I have attached some pictures to show the similarities and the differences between Universal Learning and Differentiated Learning.

Resources:

Alber, R. (2014, January 1). Defining Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved October 7, 2014, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-definition-strategies-alber

Huther, M. (2012, September 6). Around the World for Kids. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://youtu.be/rkHLL_GxG68

Koschmeder, C. (2012, June 11). What is Differentiated Instruction? Retrieved October 7, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAWKxpCv1Fw

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL). (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2014, from http://esemathsciencepractices.wikispaces.com/Universal Design for Learning (UDL)