DI+Resources

The following were contributed by Valerie Richardson:

The following site gives a list of tools to differentiate lessons with technology. The websites listed here may have been seen or used previously but they are a great list of reources. [] This site is specifically fo social studies teachers www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com this link was created to help social studies teachers differentiate their lessons and find other resources to do so. The site give teachers resources to differentiate by content, process, or product. The website [|internet4classrooms.com/di.htm]offers teachers a plethora of resources for all subject areas to help differentiate instruction by learning style, instructional theory as well as process and product. I found it useful for virtual trips/expeditions that are intercactive and cater to every learning style and to introduce content that studnets may not be really familiar with during an introductory lesson. This final resource breaksdown how to use Gardner's Multiple Intelligences for secondary social studies [|www.ctn.state.ct.us/civics/gardner.asp] it give teaching activities, teaching materials and instructional strategies.You can integrate technological resources options to aid the students in creating their final products.

Thanks for reminding me of BrainPop, I remember using briefly a few years ago but then it did not have many social studies activites for US or World History. The site has expanded some and offers more for my ninth grade US history course. Val

The following contributed by Margaret Ridgeway: Additional resources added 4/8/12: Professional Development Module - [] This is a great resource with a variety of basic information as well as suggested resources.

__Generally__: Focus On Effectiveness - [] This is a web site with excellent suggestions for aligning specific technology to particular research based instructional strategies and to certain challenges the educator may encounter today. Being a first year teacher, I believe it would be excellent tool for assisting in lesson planning and trying to find the right technology to accomplish the particular goals in a lesson. Using Digital Tools for Differentiation [] This is a wiki containing a transcription of a webinar by Bill Ferriter that outlines suggestions for using technology to accomplish differentiation in the classroom. While the suggestions are great, one of the best things he includes are his recommendations for providing structure in the differentiated classroom. One of my concerns has always been how to organize the classroom in order to efficiently allow for variety.

Thank you for finding this Margaret! I am always struggling with running a smooth classroom when students are working on different tasks. Jennifer Potter

__By Readiness__: Seeing Reason Tool - [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">This is a link to a great free tool from Intel which allows a class to map cause and effect. It is the poor man’s Inspiration, and allows the teacher to set up group assignments in which students can log in and complete the mapping assignment. Simple and easy to use, it would readily permit scaffolding of the assignment so that the teacher can differentiate according to readiness. This tool is supported by the guideline in Differentiated Instruction (DI) that a teacher should vary process by difficulty levels according to the learner’s ability level. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__By Learner Interest__: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Wikispaces.com - [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Although this is a well-known tool, it was included because Bill Ferriter in his webinar transcript listed above made a suggestion for using wikis to support learner interest. Over the course of study, students would be grouped by interest and create a wiki which would supply a medium for ongoing focus on that interest over the course of the class. For example, a World Geography class with a group that has sports as its focus would be able to delve deeper into specific sports of particular countries as the class progressed. This should definitely create a learning environment which would stimulate the affective network of Univeral Design for Learning (UDL) and increase the possibility of ongoing learner engagement set out in DI.

Hello,

Wiki spaces are becoming a very important part of the educational classroom. Using this allows you to really get this like discussions, HW assignments and long-term assignments. The students get access and have the ability to post to discussion, which can really open a students mind through independent thinking for things like current events and class discussions. Wiki’s are still in their infancy and are just really starting to take hold.

Posted by Dave Pavlick

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__By Learner Profile__: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Google Sites - [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Google Sites (another free resource) permits the user to create a web site and includes several different templates. One of the templates is for an e-portfolio for students and would make an excellent resource for students to document proficiencies in a subject in a variety of ways over a period of time. Thus, students could be assessed according to their preferred style of learning from diverse activities that fit their learning profile. The template is separated by subject matter, so it could also be used across the curriculum. This would allow the teacher to differentiate assessment according to learning preferences.

Margaret, I love that you mentioned wikispaces and google sites, as resources because we sometimes do not think about them as resources. I think my kindergarteners would be able to manipulate both a website and a wikispace if they were given the chance. I will have to look into doing something even if it only a a quick mini lesson at least they are being introduced to some type of technology. Thank you for the good idea! -Marie

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The following was submitted by Marie Johnson (Neels)

http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/Choice+Boards Choice boards are organizers that contain a variety of activities. Students can choose one or several activities to complete as they learn a skill or develop a product. Choice boards can be organized so that students are required to choose options that focus on several different skills.

Students are given a choice board that contains a list of possible activities they can complete to learn about volume. For example, students can choose to complete a lesson where they measure volume using various containers, use a textbook to read about measuring volume, or watch a video in which the steps are explained visually. The activities are based on the following learning styles: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile. Students are then asked to complete a number of activities off of the board, giving them a choice as to how they want to learn.

I like this - has a little bit of everything. Margaret Ridgeway

[|www.Brainpop.com] Brainpop.com is a website that is used to help introduce science; math or social studies topics. It provides an informational video that explains a topic to our students that is demonstrated and explained at their level. This can be differentiated because there are quizzes at the end of each topic and are leveled. Brainpop will also keep track of the results so you can go back in and see where each student scored.

=
After looking at this site I have found a few different activities that I may use for my 9th grade students throughout their freshman year in the design class that I teach. I think implementing these online lessons and activities the students seem to stay engaged a little bit longer and will save them from going through the traditional lecture and notes. These interactive lessons get the students involved through math and science. This is a great thing for me because I teach math and science throughout the entire year because it’s a pre engineering course. ======

=
They actually have an engineering and tech tab, which has some great activities even for my other classes. I’m going to use the simple machine activities and some of the communication stuff for a few different lessons getting them in a situation of a little self directed learning. ======

=
Brain pop also has a Brain pop Jr and Brain pop ESL now to meet the needs of younger students and those who are English Language Learners. The best thing is with common core rolling out in the next couple of years and literacy being a main focus, brain pop provides articles for students to read as a pre or post activity to the video. What a fantastic resource!!!! ======

Jennifer Potter
[]

This web site gives you access to different resources that have to do with STEM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). There are some great ideas about different way to introduce topics like simple machines and the math/science that is involved with solves for them.

Posted by Dave Pavick Great website. Did you notice that it is not only devoted to STEM but has a variety of resources. Thanks for finding this. Margaret Ridgeway

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Here are the resources I have found:

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Readiness__

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The first element teachers need to know about their students is their readiness or what they are comfortable doing in the classroom. Teachers need to be able to gage the comfort level of their students in the classroom by establishing background knowledge, key vocabulary and continual review. The website [|www.StudyIsland.com] allows for students to use games and interactive software to engage learners. This software is one that needs to be purchased but it allows for students to compete with one another and allows them to work at their own place in reviewing or learning the material. This is a tool that can be used for students to review for major assessments like unit assessments or End-of-Course- Tests. It is a website that provides immediate feedback to students and the teacher. I could use this program in the weeks working up to the state mandated End-of-Course- Test that all students are needed to meet the Biology requirement for graduation. The element of readiness is a simple element that can be worked into a lesson unlike the next element on interest.

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Interest__

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The element of interest is a difficult element to implement into a lesson plan. The reason for understanding student’s interest is to promote engagement. Well in a content specific course such as Biology students are limited on choices that can made because the standard’s domain and content strands are specific; however, they can choose their way to present material or synthesize information. For instance, during the unit on Evolution students could participate in a jigsaw activity using a teacher created web quest. The students could be grouped based on what topics they were interested in the unit. They could be given a first and second choice slot to ensure all topics will be covered in the unit. The website [|www.gardenquest.com] offers some free web quests in content and grade levels. One they could use is titled “Evolution in Action” by Jared Cowden. Another website they could use to assist in their research is []. This website provides various resources such as graphic organizers, virtual labs, and animated simulation to support the learning of the content. With these web sites students would create a way to present the material to their class using a various multimedia tools. These tools ensure that students are doing activities that support their interest along with engaging in the content specific standards. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">I have been wanting to try gardenquest but kept forgetting about it. Glad you included it as now I will have something to remind me to try it out. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Margaret Ridgeway <span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Learning Profile__

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">The last element that needs to be addressed in the lesson planning process is a student’s learning profile. The learning profile establishes the multiple intelligences that students possess. In most cases, students can have more than one multiple intelligence and having students use quick surveys online you can easily identify who has which one. Once you have identified the student’s intelligence then you can plan lessons to accommodate these intelligences. On the unit of Genetics, a tic-tac-toe assignment could be given like the one found on the website []. The students can chose which assignment they like the most and then two others that are either diagonal or in the same row as the initial pick. This allows students to do an assignment that they will meet one of their intelligences; as well as, challenge them to go beyond what they are familiar with. Finally, the tic-tac-toe method allows for all three elements to be met in a lesson plan or unit plan.

<span style="color: #ff0087; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Posted by Jennifer Potter

=More Resources:=

Explorelearning.com is a website that provides interactive "gizmos" for students to practice math and science concepts. It caters to grades 3-12 and has a couple of college level math courses. The downfall to the website is that it does cost money but you can sign up for a free thirty day trial and give it a try. It is definitely one that I hope my school will purchase soon.

Jennifer Potter