Technology-Based Resources for Differentiation

 These are my top 5 technology-based programs for differentiated learning. Differentiation is an important part of instruction for the "personalization for learning tasks" (Colquitt, Pritchard, et al, 2019). Differentiation is important in order to reaching students and their learning needs. Differentiation in best practice because it differs by content, process, and product (Taylor, 2015). Teachers differentiated by content which is what you teach. The process which is how you teach. It is also product which is the evidence that the student shows. 

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Think about using these technology-based programs to differentiate your product, process, and content. 

#5 Google Slides

         Google Slides can differentiate the students' product (Google Slides, 2022). Teachers, classes, groups, individuals can create slides to present information or their learning. The slides have a variety of tools that they can add.

        Google Slides (2022) is easy to use. The teacher and student can interact easily within a few lessons. It is very practical to incorporate even with kindergarteners and can challenge older students. Most school districts have the Microsoft program and is free. It is very friendly to use. It can be used for all subjects.

       Google Slides can be easily adapted for all learning styles, abilities, and interests. Luckly, the teacher has the control to create topics that differentiate interest for students. The slides have the ability to differentiate learning styles. Students and teachers can add visuals (pictures), auditory (students present and add sound with slides) and reading and writing (writing responses) to the slides. Teachers can use instructional strategies like peer interaction, exit tickets, reflection, quiz knowledge, prior knowledge, portfolio, tiered learning within the slides. Teachers can use learning style strategies by students adding visuals, sounds (record your voice), reading/ writing on the slides, and students can create kinesthetic and take photos to add to the slides. The expectations for students can be modified.

#4 Flipgrid

      Flipgrid differentiates the students' product (Flipgrid,2022). Flipgrid is a website where a teacher posts a question. The students post videos and comments to videos. The videos can have a written response. They can also do models or show in tells. If you have a shy student, they can block their pictures.

        Flipgrid (2022), is hard to use and needs a few lessons before you can use. It takes about 5 minutes to put together a prompt. It also takes a few minutes for students to login and respond. The videos are great because videos can be engaging. It would be useful to use once a week. It is free to sign up. Flipgrid is helpful and can be a fun way for students to respond. 

        It can be used for all subjects. Flipgrid lacks readiness but is used for engagement. The questions that teachers post can be differentiated by interest. Teachers can differentiate learning styles by supporting learners with visual (video creation), auditory (sound in video), reading and writing (writing responses), and kinesthetic (show and tell projects). Teachers can use instructional strategies with Flipgrid like role- playing, portfolio, and tiered learning. It has the ability to vary how they present a video, reading, or show their project. 

#3 Kahoot

   Kahoot differentiates the students' process (Kahoot., 2022). It uses videos and images to gamify learning. A teacher posts questions into slides or through the website. The students compete against each other for the correct answers. 

    Kahoot (2022), needs lessons from YouTube to use. It seems easy to incorporate and access on computers. The questions are easy to add and present. It does not take a long time to create or present. The program has a free option that add only a few questions or pay $72 that has storage, teacher results, and can add slides. It is competitive and is engaging with gamification. 

    It can used for all subjects. It is not adaptable for ability levels individually but can be done with groups. The teacher dictates the interest of the topics. Teachers can differentiate learning styles by supporting learners with visual learning (slide creation), auditory (teacher teaching slides), and reading and writing (reading responses). Teachers can use instructional strategies with Kahoot like gamification, reflection, quiz knowledge, and prior knowledge. The teacher dictates the differences and learning styles. 

# 2 Prezi

   Prezi differentiates the students' product (Prezi., 2022). It is an online slideshow program. It has unique presenting features. It allows images and videos to be added easily. Teachers or students can create slides to present their slides.

    The teacher and students need a few lessons to learn how to add slides (Prezi., 2022). It takes time to log into the program and present slides. The cost is free. It is friendly to use and has lots of added features that Google Slides does not. 

    Prezi can be used for all subjects. The expectation for students can be modified for students. It can easily be adapted for all learning styles, abilities, and interests. The teacher has the control to create topics for students. Teachers can use instructional strategies with Prezi can easily be adapted for all learning styles, abilities, and interests. Teachers can differentiate learning styles by adding visuals, sound (record their voice), reading/writing on slides, and students can create kinesthetic pictures to add onto the slides.

#1 Nearpod

   Nearpod can differentiate the process (Nearpod, 2017). It has a variety of engagement activities. The teacher can create videos and slides. With the presentation the teacher can motivate students' learning through questions with drawings, quiz games, quizzes in video, matching, open-ended questions, poll, images, and response boards.

   Nearpod (2017), needs a few lessons from YouTube to understand. It seems time consuming to create slides, but I see the benefits with engagement. It is easy to incorporate after the slides and activities are created. It is very friendly to use. It has a free option with 100 MB storage or $159 with 1 GB storage and slides abilities. It can be used in all subjects. Students' readiness can be differentiated by adapting for learning styles, abilities, and interests. 

   The interest is teacher directed and responses are directed. Teachers can differentiate learning styles by supporting visual students through slides, auditory with teacher teaching slides, reading and writing. Teachers can use instructional strategies with Nearpod like writing responses, peer interaction, gamification, exit tickets, reflection, quiz knowledge, or prior knowledge. There is a variety of questions that can be asked by using different learning styles.

Ownership

    I think that Prezi and Google Slides allows students to vary their product. They get to decide how they can show their learning. I think Prezi and Google Slides are similar. They both have the ability to create slides. It can be used for any subject, it can be differentiated, and it can be adapted easily. The students take full ownership of the slides. 

References

Bayliss, J. (2018). 10 best apps to support differentiated instruction. Whooo’s Reading The Blog.         http://blog.whooosreading.org/apps-support-differentiated-instruction/

Colquitt, G., Pritchard, T., Johnson, C., & McCollum, S. (2017). Differentiating instruction in physical education: Personalization of learning. JOPERD: The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 88(7), 44–50. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/07303084.2017.1340205

Flipgrid- Share. Discover. Be You. (2022). Flipgrid.com Retrieved 7 January 2023, https://flipgid.com/

Google Slides. (2022). Google. Retrieved 7 January 2023, https://www.google.com/slides/about/

Kahoot. (2022). Kahoot.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023, http://www.kahoot.com

Nearpod - However you teach, it’s in Nearpod. (2017). Nearpod.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023, from https://nearpod.com/

Prezi. (2022). Prezi.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023, http://www.prezi.com

 Taylor, B. (2015) .Content, process, and product: Modeling differentiated instruction, Kappa Delta Pi Record, 51:1, 13-17, DOI: 10.1080/00228958.2015.988559