Destiny Benjamin

EDU-225
March 20, 2016
Clutter
Section 4: Differentiating Instruction through Technology
Technology would be used to differentiate instruction in my classroom in many ways. It
would mostly depend on the students in my classroom and their abilities. Making sure that
students are the center of it all makes a big difference.
The possible pros and cons of using technology to differentiate instruction are finding a
website or activity that could benefit all of your students. In many of the classrooms that I have
observed in not all of the students inside the classroom are at the same level at any of the content
areas. With that being said it is difficult to do an activity on a smartboard that would satisfy all of
your students needs. As a teacher you could design a lesson that would benefit all by creating a
lesson at the level where the majority of your class is at, which I have seen done. Another pro
could be having your lower students alternate on the computers to do little activities. A Con
could be if you use the wrong technology to reach a student. Some schools do not offer a variety
of technology so that would could be a downfall.
Teachers should use technology whenever it fits the lesson. It should not matter if it is for
differentiation purposes or not. I think it all depends on the teacher and their philosophy of
teaching. Most of the classrooms that I have been in they use technology for different reasons. I
have seen a teacher use it for differentiation in a preschool setting. It works great. The students
love it and it reaches all of their needs. In one of my practicum classrooms the teacher uses it so
students can see the information better, because there is not many room to write it down. During
reading the teacher uses the projector. She puts the paper in front of it and points to each word,

and it is easier for the students to read. Therefore, I do not think that you have to use technology
just for differentiation reasons.
The impact on student achievement when technology is used to differentiate instruction
can be beneficial when using it the right way. An article mentioned many ways technology
impacts achievement, here are a few. Technology is improving student performance when the
application provides opportunities for student collaboration (Smith & Throne, 2007).
Technology improves student performance when the application directly supports the
curriculum objectives being assessed (Smith & Throne, 2007). This is important because it
shows that you need a content standard when using technology. Technology will not be
beneficial when standing on its own, it has to have a purpose. Technology improves
performance when used in environments where teachers, the school community, and school and
district administrators support the use of technology (Smith & Throne, 2007). This means
teachers going to professional development workshops to get more familiar with the advances of
technology.
Student-centered learning moves students from passive receivers of information to
active participants in their own discovery process (). Student centered technology in the class is
important because it lets students take responsibility of their own learning. A student-centered
learning environment encourages students to become independent learners and ultimately to be
in charge of their own education (). It lest students be creative. They become explorers capable
of leveraging their curiosity to solve real-world problems (ISTE,2016). When you put students
in charge of their learning it opens possibilities and ideas that you would have never known
otherwise. Technology allows for an unprecedented level of personalized learning, with
valuable opportunities to monitor progress and engagement, follow student thinking, and

digitally assess competencies (ISTE,2016). Children are curious, eager to learn, so if we

actually out them in the forefront of it they will want to keep learning.it sparks a new interest in
them. I have seen it be done and if we keep doing it only good things will happen. It changes
how the educational system thinks towards technology, it creates an encouraging environment.

References

Bogdan, Paul. 2011. Student-Centered Learning Environments: How and Why.

Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-centered-learning-environmentspaul-bogdan

ISTE. 2016. Essential Conditions. Student-centered learning.

Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/essential-conditions/student-centeredlearning

Smith, E. Grace and Throne, Stephanie. 2007. Differentiating Instruction

with Technology in K5 Classrooms. Retrieved from:

http://www.iste.org/docs/excerpts/diffk5-excerpt.pdf