Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Differentiating Instruction through Technology
A comprehensive technology plan is important in today's classroom for both students and teachers. In the world today technology moves at lightening speed and students and educators are left behind in the dust, as it moves.. A bridge to being knowledgeable is to bring it into classrooms with project based learning and flipped classroom models to encourage individualized learning according to learning styles. Students and educators alike should be encouraged to step outside of their own comfort and knowledge levels and take a flying leap head on into the world of technology, by being forefront in pioneering educational learning experiences.

Technology to Differentiate Instruction
(Podcasts):Podcasts can be used by students in a flipped classroom presentation to other students and their teachers to present their knowledge content of state or common core standards. Using this type of technology would differentiate from traditional instruction by giving students the ability to use their creative license to material that could possibly not interest a student. In this way, using technology in a fun and inventive way could bring their attention back to learning the material. There are ISTE standards that are both met by teacher and student. For teachers, ISTE standard 1c “Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.(2008)”. By giving students the opportunity to explore their own conceptual understanding by creating a podcast giving in depth knowledge of subject matter students are demonstrating their own mastery of knowledge. In such presentations, as a video podcast students fall right in line with ISTE standard of “Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats. (ISTE-students, 2008)”

(Wikispaces): Wikispaces can be used by educators and students alike, with teachers using them as a way to keep the lines of communication open with available information beyond just the classroom. These spaces are available for students and teachers to use for additional technological learning experiences. ISTE standards for students 3b wants students to “Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media. (ISTE-students, 2008)”. While those Standards are touched on by ISTE standard 2d hits “Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.(ISTE-Teachers, 2008)”.

(Powtoons): PowToons can be used in a variety of ways for self-directed student success. Students are able to use their imagination and creative energies into creating a fun, inventive and powerful presentation on any subject matter. One standard that it will hit for students is 1b, “Create original works as a means of personal or group expression (ISTE-student, 2008).” For teachers it is standard 4b “Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources. (ISTE-teacher, 2008)”. Using new tools like PowToons to showcase the mastery of content of knowledge only furthers technology in knowing that students are indeed on the right path to a different type of standardized education.

Pros and Cons There are pros and cons to every side of learning, there are more pros with differentiate instruction, it gives students the opportunity to be in control, use their own creativity and gives them the way to showcase their knowledge. For teachers they will see what their student knows and maybe learn something new from their students. Some cons to this approach is that the expectation for student based learning is higher than regular methods. It also is harder to do in rural areas where high speed internet is not always available and having access to technology is not always as available as it would be in more suburban areas. Rural areas and up country have a harder time of accomplishing such tasks without the availability of reliable technology, such as high speed internet that is not costly. With the most major needed component of technology and even flipped type classrooms it is next to impossible to teach students how to use new technology if it is not available to use. In 2011, only 60% of Americans had the use of broadband internet in homes (Severson, 2011).

Concluding Paragraph
Technology is a solid part of education, it is here and staying. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope that because of where we live in that it will not affect us and how we learn. Instead, we must embrace it and do our very best to learn about it and encourage our students to take a leap of faith into the unknown and try something new that they may not understand with our guidance. To show their own mastery of the content and prove that sometimes, what is not expected can be great.

Multimedia Presentation part 2

Introduction:

The integration of technology is important in education because it is all around us. So many schools and teachers around the world are learning in the name of Education. Learning to grow and mature from their old school ways and bring in new technology to partner up with the knowledge content that is already known. It can be used hand in hand with traditional learning, so that students have an easier time of transition to their education in technology. Technology can be used to teach reading, with read a long books for students who are audio learners such as “Green Eggs and Ham” By Dr. Seuss (1960) these books can be taught hand in hand with the traditional book so that audio learners can hear what they need to learn how to say and pronounce things. Dyslexic learners can also benefit from learning in that manner as well since dyslexic learners need several different types of ways to learn effectively hand in hand technology with traditional learning in ways to suit their needs and learning styles.

Interactive Whiteboard

Interactive Whiteboards are great for classroom learning, in all aspects of teaching and learning. Both roles in the classroom can benefit by using this piece of technology in a classroom. With a just a touch instantly a teacher is connected to software programs or the internet. Engaging students in interactive lessons that can be taught with the help of student teaching as well as a visual way of displaying videos, diagrams and interactive learning. The idea that it is a glorified chalkboard is wrong, in fact teachers find it to be more validating to student education according to an article from Scholastic Instructor “Mary Jo DeWitt, a fourth grade teacher at Allen County Intermediate Center in Kentucky, loves the interactive experience her whiteboard provides and its ability to expose her students to whole new worlds. For instance, she recently did a unit on the intertidal zone. “I've got kids who have never seen the ocean before,” she notes, “but with the whiteboard they are hearing it, seeing it and labeling the salt marshes that they're seeing right in front of them.(Shorr, n.d)”


Chrome Books

Google Chrome Books are small net books that are just as capable as a traditional laptop. Students and teachers can use them to interact online, with google docs and or skype. These little computers are more cost effective than laptops or ipads and they also come with keyboards for student typing. They update automatically over time and unlike laptops do not slow down over time, their batteries also last much longer than a traditional laptop which make them more compatible for classrooms since they do not need to be charged after a few short hours. Google claims “Virus protection, multiple layers of security, and verified boot help keep you safe from viruses, malware and other computer nasties.(Google, n.d)”


High Speed Internet Service

Internet service is key to bringing technology to classrooms, without it, it is impossible to connect to the worldwide web. Internet providers in the high country or even rural areas are slim pickings and more often than not schools are trying to use satellite internet as if it has the capacity to work as well as high speed internet. In bad weather or to many users will slow down that already limited technology to a slow crawl until it finally stops. Schools can get all the gadgets and toys they want, but without the technology to connect to the web, software or online programs such as Google docs or powtoons, students and teachers have nothing to work with.


Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning

The many pros and cons of technology to facilitate learning start with a good internet connection without it, that already makes it a con. The common core is here to stay in most states, some states have already broken ties with the new standards and others have marched on fearlessly. Other positive aspects of learning with technology is that students will be more prepared for college, they will know how to type papers, make power points and even videos. They will be more experienced then perhaps their own parents in the ways of technological advances that have become the norm to the every day workforce but also those in our schools. Knowledge is true power, even technological knowledge falls into that mentality. But it is not everything, if perhaps there was a day when we lost power for hours or days we could not rely on electronics to tell us where to go or to dial “1” to reach a loved on on a cell phone. We should still teach students basic “old school” skills to have a vast knowledge of everything that is around them.



Wired and Wireless Classrooms (100-200 words)

Wired classrooms are great in having traditional desktop computers, however in homes and businesses around the country have moved to wireless internet. The more powerful, longer distance seems to be the goal. Most classrooms still have wired services, with traditional desktop computers which limit how many will be available due to space constraint. Yet, still able to provide internet access and computer programming software. Wireless internet has unlimited boundaries, multiple devices can connect to the internet at the same time. Students could be on laptops, chrome books and iPads all at the same time as long as the wireless capabilities were high bandwidth and there were enough devices to go around. Space constraints do not really matter other than storage for smaller devices. They both have pros, in that they both provide internet access. The cons for wired methods means that there is a limited computer access, as in devices themselves. Wireless would be more appropriate for whole classroom learning so that all students can connect to the internet at the same time, to the same material. There are more benefits to wireless than there are to wired, teachers will be able to have whole class lessons and instruction at the same time with many devices. A more preferable learning approach for most teachers who most likely do not have aides in classrooms anymore to help out with smaller group learning due to funding cuts.


Conclusion


There are many things that a technologically advanced classroom should have, most importantly a wireless internet connection so that students and teachers can connect to the vast knowledge that the world wide web holds. Teachers can create lesson with interactive whiteboards and students can write presentations up together with chrome books and edit them together simultaneously as they make corrections or find new information to add to group projects. But most importantly, a solid high speed internet connection with enough bandwidth to carry classrooms of students and their learning devices.


References



Meet Chromebook. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2014, from https://www.google.com/chrome/devices/features/

Seuss, D. (1960, August 12). Green Eggs and Ham. Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Green-Eggs-and-Ham-Audiobook/B002V8N4C0

Wheaton Shorr, P. (n.d.). The New Digital Wave | Scholastic.com. Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/new-digital-wave

Technology to Support Education

Introduction

    Implementing a comprehensive classroom technology plan is important for students to become introduced to at an early age. In today's world so many of our day to day life revolves around simple technology in our homes, we need become comfortable with it in our classrooms. Every day actions seem to center around technology, even if it is simple like a alarm clock set to wake us up at the right time. For each of us technology can enhance education, but make us reach further than before to learn. By using technology to communicate with each other in and out of class parents and teachers can team up to do what is best for their students in an instantaneous partnership.

Technology to Enhance Communication

(Google Calendar):  “Teachers can do so much more than sharing a google calendar with their students.(Brumbaugh & Calhoon (2014)” .Google calendar can be shared with anyone you invite to it, just by providing the link to the intended users. It can also be used to invite others to important occasions, in a student's life that may be student of the week or a Christmas play.

Parents: Keeping the parents updated to assignments and classroom on a regular basis, in advance of any events that parents need to be aware of . To also keep parents informed of homework responsibilities by students. Most importantly to invite parents to important events in their child's lives.

Students: Students will be able to use the google calendar to keep themselves updated on what their responsibilities are with their teacher.

Global Community: The ability to share with others among the global community (extended family or other teachers) who are interested in how our classroom comes together. But to also extend the invitation to their loved one's events.

(ePals): For students this is an invaluable tool to learn from and about other nationalities and countries. To see that there is more to the world that exists beyond our boarders and beaches. Students will learn cultural differences as well the possibility of global community group projects.

Parents: Parents will have the opportunity to see their students learn beyond the normal in classroom scope and surrounding community. Their student will learn cultural differences, make new friends and learn in group community projects.

Students: Students will learn to work with others of different nationalities and cultural differences. By creating mutually beneficial experience for each class.

Global Community: The global community would benefit from the experience by the mutual exchange of information of cultural differences in a beneficial experience for all students.

(Google Docs): With this tool students will be able to expand their knowledge base at their own pace. With project based learning together, students can keep in contact with each other via the web and change documents together -instantaneously.((learn google aps.) Students will also be able to learn from each other as well as make creative suggestions to projects.

Parents: Parents have a stake in their children's education and can help their students with these projects from home on their home computer to see what their children are learning.

Students: Students will learn basic computer skills in word processing, presentations and more. These are basic skills that most students will need moving into the common core.

Global Community: The documents created can be shared with anyone in the global community. If perhaps students did a science project on earth science and the grand canyon, they could share with other students in other countries via google docs.

(Google Hangouts): Students can talk to their own classmates from home or in class by communicating via online about the projects they are working on. This is also a good way to learn typing skills and how to communicate effectively via text or video. Students can even reach those in other countries and work productively together on group projects.  

Parents: Parents can communicate with their children through hangouts as well, as well as monitor their children to see what they are working on but also the skills they are picking up – like typing and video interactions.

Students: Will learn how to communicate with others via typed out messages or video. They will have to learn how to effectively communicate to other students, especially if students are from another country.

Global Community: The global community will be able to use the hangout on their own electric devices to talk to other students about collaborative projects, using typing skills or through video chat.


Concluding Paragraph

     
     There are many different products that are similar enough that students can use to chat, most of the ones mentioned here are all from Google, a well known name through the world wide web. Pushing forth, through the march of time, technology is here to stay. It is more effective to learn how to work with it and use it effectively, then to pretend it does not exist. Students will be better prepared having the knowledge to use as they progress in their educational careers as they get older they will become more comfortable and find preferred communication tools.

Being Creative

Today we had a special visitor in class who shared her love and knowledge of water color painting. Ms. M was thrilled to show us a new way to paint a detailed flower in our own special way. First we used pencil to draw the flower, and then went over those marks with pencil.

Like this.

Afterwards, we erased whatever pencil marks were still left. And continued on with decorating or marking our flowers in their own patterns. Ms. M was showing us how to do that to make our flowers special.

Ms. M gave us permission to paint as well as how to pick out the appropriate colors to use to enhance our flowers.

This is one of our finished projects.

Field Trip Fun

Hello Parents,

Today our students had the opportunity to go to to Mokelumne Hill just up the hill from our home. Students checked out The Hotel Ledger, a hotel that is reportedly haunted but was also at one time next to the county seat where the jail was next door. Most of you probably know that at one time the tv show Hotel Impossible came to the area and helped put the hotel in a better spot and renovated some of the spaces, including the jail which is now a meeting room or even available for special meetings.



We panned for gold and even found some.

Learned how to use mark leather.

And taught about Wells Fargo

Our children had so much fun and hope that we can continue on the way to having more fun in and out of class!

9.8.2014

Hello Parents & Students!

Tomorrow we are heading out to the Mokelumne Hill History Day. Students went home last week with permission slips as well as instructions on what they will need to bring and the expectations that I have of students. This is a follow up reminder for parents, just in case. Each student came home with a packet that was provided by the Mokelumne Hill History Society & Mokelumne Hill Community Historical Trust, this is an extra copy to what we have been using in class.


*Your child will need to bring a light jacket or sweatshirt for the early morning.

*A sack lunch with a morning and afternoon snack - in addition to their regular lunch, they will have plenty of activities during the day and will be hungry!

*Good walking shoes.

*Comfortable clothing that you do not mind if they get dirty in as they students will be panning for gold.

Our class is very excited for this trip to learn about the past of California and to see it all in their area. Most students had no idea that there was a considerable amount of The Gold Rush happened here more than a hundred years ago, as well as the different types of nationalities that came here to settle and find the treasure of the foothills. I hope your children have a lot of fun tomorrow and hope to see smiling faces all day long.

What do we want to learn?

Every week, one student gets to be the STAR of the class all students are randomly picked by a student in class using the old fashioned stick method. Each student is responsible for a small presentation about themselves to introduce themselves to their classmates. I encourage each student to talk about their favorite subject, book, sport, food, cartoon and what they like to do in their free time. This does not have to be done using a standard written report - video reports or visual presentations are also encouraged. This should be fun and creative for all students. Each student also gets to choose one thing they would like to learn about, I use a free part of the day so we can learn about that student's interest.

This week our STAR student chose Astronomy - we used a website to play games, learn about our solar system and deep space.


Astronomy for Kids

September 3, 2014

Hello!

This is a day late, I'm sorry. I have been getting many questions from parents how they can help their child. The very first thing you can do is keep up with this blog and use the Assignment calendar on the right side of the screen. I will update it as necessary for students, projects and regular assignments. But at the same time you will be able to know what is expected of your student. Please take a look at a few of the books we are using right now in class,a few of them will come home with the students as well as pass codes for MobyMax and My Math from McGraw Hill.

Thank you,

Mrs. Tofanelli

September 2nd, 2014

Hello Students & Parents!

Today we had a fun filled day exploring the gold rush of California. We read The California God Rush by Mel Friedman today and then used some online games to enforce what it was like that time period. The students started with The American Experience The Gold Rush Strike It Rich! where students could be any one of five different characters, each character has attributes but also has something that holds them back a little. For instance the character that is simply named "woman" can cook, sew and has nice clothes. However miners need mining gear, how successful will the woman be without mining gear or money. Students need to make good choices dependent upon some scenarios, such as loosing their health or what wealth they had. Check out the game with your student and see what they learned.


Click the link!
The California Gold Rush by Mel Friedman

Click the link!

American Experience The Gold Rush Strike It Rich!

Welcome to The Homework Folder

Welcome to The Homework Folder, my name is Mrs. Tofanelli and I welcome you to the blog that is about our class, what we will be doing and a way for parents to see exactly what their students are working on. This will be an informative blog that students and parents can come too to find out more information on what is going on in class as well as a place to get answers when we are not in class. I will be providing links to online resources as well as printable & downloadable documents for your student.Please contact me using the email link to the right or call me at the school during after school hours until 4:00, the number there is 555-444-9999.

Mrs.Tofanelli