techdiversity

How can one technological tool help children with a range of different needs?How can hi-tech tools be utilized to maximize potential learning?

Megan Donnelly

Technology enhances and makes possible the benefits of differentiated instruction. Programs such as those using talking text or word processors provide students at all levels with useful tools that build on their skills and help them improve based on their individual learning level. For example, talking text programs can be used for students with reading disabilities, students with attention deficits, or students who speak English as a second language. Teacher's today are very fortunate to have technology to reach out to diverse groups of students!

Using Technology to Support Diversity

A diverse learning environment incorporates, but is not limited to, an array of students of varying gender, learning capability, ethnicity, sexual orientation. The responsibility of making each student feel a connection with the material knows no competitors. The ways of bridging the gaps between an otherwise disconnected classroom can be tough, and may sometimes seem impossible. However, technology provides educators with tools that function to bring each student up to speed, no matter their learning pace.

http://fod.msu.edu/oir/teaching-diverse-populationshttp://www.wested.org/online_pubs/kn-05-01.pdf

Differentiated instruction combats the difficulties of the diverse classroom by urging teachers to conduct lessons through multiple representations. When teachers manipulate material and present it to students in various ways, students can then interpret the lesson in a way that best relates to them!