EDLD+5364+Week+3

=**My Impressions from Week Three of EDLD 5364**=


 * So Much Technology, So Little Time...So Many Students!**

Differentiating instruction has been a challenge for teachers forever. "Teach to the middle" was often a mantra of teachers of nearly all subject areas. In a desperate attempt to make a difference, we even went to "ability grouping" even though research has shown that, particularly at the elementary level, heterogeneous self-contained classrooms are the most effective (Cohen 1986 for one example). Enter technology (and cue angelic choir!). The tools available to teachers and students in today's classrooms help people on both ends of the spectrum. Students can have the instruction they need to be successful, and teachers can be afforded the time for preparation and feedback that would be nearly impossible if this differentiation was done by the teacher alone. The tools on the CAST site (Book Builder and sample modules) are amazing and I have already created an account at iknowthat.com (oh please, don't think you can dangle a FREE web resource that's actually not blocked by my school district's filters and think that I'm not going to use it!). Finding iknowthat.com was worth the purchase price of the book //Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works.//

Because of the sheer volume of tools already available, it is now possible to give students a choice in how they will demonstrate their learning. Giving students a choice of creating a video, a photo story, a podcast, a digital image, an essay, or a blog is bound to be more effective in gaining their attention than traditional, non-technology methods. How the students use these tools can be carefully guided by the teacher to address students where they are and assist them (both teachers and students) in setting goals that are as individual as each learner. The variety of software and hardware tools also allows the teacher to quickly assess each student's progress and provide more-immediate feedback than traditional teaching methods. The introduction of technology into the classroom is definitely a win-win. Teachers can do their jobs even more effectively than ever and students who may have been left by the wayside now have the opportunity to reach their full potential.