Using Technology Using Technology to Meet the Needs to Meet the Needs

of All Learners of All Learners

Patty McGinnis, NBCTPatty McGinnis, NBCT

Methacton School DistrictMethacton School District

pmcginnis@methacton.orgpmcginnis@methacton.org

Learners are DIVERSE!Learners are DIVERSE!

BackgroundsBackgrounds Language Language

ProficiencyProficiency PersonalityPersonality BehaviorBehavior InterestsInterests MotivationMotivation Social and Social and

Emotional Emotional DevelopmentDevelopment

AbilitiesAbilities Learning StylesLearning Styles

http://www.collaboration-llc.com/Portals/60853/images/diversity.jpg

The Visual LearnerThe Visual Learner 40% to 65% of the 40% to 65% of the

populationpopulation Absorbs information Absorbs information

best by viewing graphs, best by viewing graphs, pictures, and maps pictures, and maps

Like information that is Like information that is written out written out

Makes lists or takes Makes lists or takes notesnotes

Can get distracted by Can get distracted by things like messy roomsthings like messy rooms

http://4volt.com/download/wallpaper/photo/4volt_dot_com-eye%20(1024).jpg

Approximately 30% Approximately 30% to 40% of the to 40% of the populationpopulation

Learn best through Learn best through lectures, lectures, conversation, and conversation, and the spoken wordthe spoken word

Can get distracted Can get distracted by outside noisesby outside noises

Have a tendency to Have a tendency to talk to themselves talk to themselves when learningwhen learning

http://www.angelfire.com/blues/writing/Image9.gif

The Auditory LearnerThe Auditory Learner

The Kinesthetic LearnerThe Kinesthetic Learner 5% to 25% of the 5% to 25% of the

populationpopulation

Mostly young childrenMostly young children

Prefer experiments, Prefer experiments, games, and other games, and other practical “hands-on” practical “hands-on” applicationsapplications

Likes to moveLikes to move

Can get distracted by Can get distracted by activity around themactivity around them

Learners Differ by AbilityLearners Differ by Ability

Regular Education Regular Education StudentsStudents

Gifted and Gifted and Talented StudentsTalented Students

Special Education Special Education StudentsStudents Emotional SupportEmotional Support Learning SupportLearning Support

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Meeting Diverse Learner Meeting Diverse Learner Needs Through Needs Through

Differentiated InstructionDifferentiated Instruction

http://www.resources.8j.net/

Differentiation is…Differentiation is…

“ “Tailoring instruction to individual needs Tailoring instruction to individual needs by taking into account learner by taking into account learner background, knowledge, preferences, background, knowledge, preferences, strengths, and learning styles to strengths, and learning styles to challenge students in areas of need or challenge students in areas of need or weakness.”weakness.”

-Carol -Carol TomlinsonTomlinson

So Why Technology?So Why Technology?

Technology Addresses Technology Addresses Learning StylesLearning Styles

http://www.languagequest.com/sproducts/images_soft/Chinese/iq_chinese_graphic1.gif

Technology Technology DifferentiatesDifferentiates

Successful with varying student Successful with varying student experiences and abilities experiences and abilities

It’s motivating, engaging, and funIt’s motivating, engaging, and fun It prepare students for the real world It prepare students for the real world It appeals to a variety of learning styles It appeals to a variety of learning styles It can accommodate all types of It can accommodate all types of

learnerslearners It’s diverse! Print, video, and audio It’s diverse! Print, video, and audio

products can be createdproducts can be createdhttp://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/legacy/district/instech/diff/index.htmlhttp://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/legacy/district/instech/diff/index.html

Technology Increases Technology Increases Depth of LearningDepth of Learning

Technology Builds Technology Builds Advanced Cognitive SkillsAdvanced Cognitive Skills

Source: http://www.odu.edu/educ/llschult/blooms_taxonomy.htm

Technology Builds Higher Technology Builds Higher Order Thinking SkillsOrder Thinking Skills

Technology Helps Learners Technology Helps Learners Retain InformationRetain Information

Technology Prepares 21Technology Prepares 21stst Century LearnersCentury Learners

http://www.thinkfinity.org/UploadedImages/image/features/21st_century_PR_2.jpg

Why is this Important?Why is this Important?

““We are at a We are at a punctuation point punctuation point in human history.”in human history.”  

Dan Dan TapscottTapscott

Businesses must Businesses must compete in a compete in a global market global market

  http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/currency.jpg

Question: Question:

What skills are necessary for What skills are necessary for functioning in a global functioning in a global economy?economy?

2121stst Century Skills Century Skills

Critical thinking Critical thinking Problem solvingProblem solving CreativityCreativity InnovationInnovation CommunicationCommunication CollaborationCollaboration

The Age of Networked The Age of Networked IntelligenceIntelligence

Don Tapscott, author of  Don Tapscott, author of  Wikinomics: How Mass Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes EverythingCollaboration Changes Everything

“Individual and collective knowledge structures, practices, and reasoning processes that allow the agent (individual or community) to function intelligently in its environments.”

http://financeturf.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/global-market-in-hand2.jpg

Principles for the Age of Principles for the Age of Networked IntelligenceNetworked Intelligence

CollaborationCollaboration OpennessOpenness SharingSharing InterdependenInterdependen

cece IntegrityIntegrity

http://www.networkedintelligence.com/images/sarah-murray.jpg

2121stst Century Classrooms Century Classrooms MUST CollaborateMUST Collaborate

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Why is Collaboration Why is Collaboration Important?Important?

Collaboration enables individuals to work effectively with Collaboration enables individuals to work effectively with diverse teamsdiverse teams

Diversity Increases Diversity Increases PerformancePerformance

DIVERSITY among DIVERSITY among team members team members leads to better leads to better performance performance because of the because of the range of range of viewpoints and viewpoints and experience of the experience of the different different individualsindividuals

http://fazia.in2p3.fr/images/collaboration.gif

Why Collaboration WorksWhy Collaboration Works

http://trident-consulting.net/wp-content/themes/trident/images/Collaboration.jpg

Teams “tend to Teams “tend to perform better perform better when members when members exchange exchange knowledge knowledge freely among freely among themselves and themselves and outsiders.” outsiders.” (Hyashi, 2004)(Hyashi, 2004)

“ “If you have an apple If you have an apple and I have an apple and and I have an apple and we exchange these we exchange these apples then you and I apples then you and I will still each have one will still each have one apple. But if you have apple. But if you have an an ideaidea and I have an and I have an idea and we exchange idea and we exchange these these ideasideas, then each , then each of us will have two of us will have two ideasideas.”.”

George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw

How Collaboration WorksHow Collaboration Works

““But I don’t want But I don’t want to be on the to be on the bottom!”bottom!”

Teams Teams compromise to compromise to accomplish a accomplish a common goal common goal 

http://www.fwi.co.uk/blogs/agribusiness/collaboration.jpg

How Do We Get There?How Do We Get There?

Welcome to Web 2.0!Welcome to Web 2.0!

Web 2.0…a place Web 2.0…a place to to

Share Share InformationInformation

CollaborateCollaborate PublishPublish

The Web 2.0 = The Web 2.0 = CollaborationCollaboration

http://web2097.blogspot.com/2007/07/web-20-medical-collaboration-with-no.html

Students CREATE With Students CREATE With Web 2.0 Web 2.0

http://tsheko.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/visual-blooms-web-20-taxonomy/

The Web 2.0 is VastThe Web 2.0 is Vast

Where Do We Start?Where Do We Start?

http://ckendall.wikispaces.com/file/view/historic_classroom.jpg/43104259/historic_classroom.jpg

Tool # 1: PodcastsTool # 1: Podcasts

http://ozgekaraoglu.edublogs.org/files/2010/06/Picture1.jpg

Podcasting is EASY and Podcasting is EASY and FUNFUN

http://homepage.mac.com/artistry/podcasts/podcast-graphic.gif

What’s a Podcast?What’s a Podcast?

An audio program you can listen toAn audio program you can listen to Like a homemade radio showLike a homemade radio show Created and posted to the Internet Created and posted to the Internet

for listenersfor listeners Can be downloaded onto an MP3 Can be downloaded onto an MP3

player player Pretty simple, right? Pretty simple, right?

Have a Computer? You Can Have a Computer? You Can Podcast!Podcast!

No special equipment No special equipment neededneeded

Most laptops have built Most laptops have built in Microphonesin Microphones

MAC: use Garage BandMAC: use Garage Band PC Users: Download PC Users: Download

Audacity—it’s free!Audacity—it’s free! Can download Can download

podcasts to i- tunes, podcasts to i- tunes, post to a wiki or school post to a wiki or school websitewebsite

docinthemachine.com

Ideas for Using Podcasts in the Ideas for Using Podcasts in the ClassroomClassroom

News items and News items and commentary commentary

Interviews Interviews Debates Debates Tutorials Tutorials Public Service Public Service

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Sample Podcast

Create and Publish to the Create and Publish to the WorldWorld

Incredibly easyIncredibly easy World-wide World-wide

audienceaudience People can People can

subscribe via RSS subscribe via RSS feedsfeeds

Sample Podcast

Tool #2: GlogsterTool #2: Glogster

http://edu.glogster.com/http://edu.glogster.com/

Glogs are…Glogs are…

Interactive, Multimedia PostersInteractive, Multimedia Posters Content integrated with Video, Sound, Content integrated with Video, Sound,

Graphics Graphics Allows for comments Allows for comments FREE teacher accountFREE teacher account edu.Glogster.com is a Safe, private edu.Glogster.com is a Safe, private

platform platform Selected by American Association of School Selected by American Association of School

Librarians as a “Best Web Site for Teaching Librarians as a “Best Web Site for Teaching and Learning”and Learning”

Tool #3: WikiTool #3: Wiki

Wiki? Wiki?

What’s a What’s a Wiki?Wiki?

A Wiki is…A Wiki is…

““Any website that Any website that allows the easy allows the easy creation and editing creation and editing of any number of of any number of interlinked web interlinked web pages via a web pages via a web browser using a browser using a simplified markup simplified markup language or a language or a WYSIWYG text WYSIWYG text editor”editor”

Huh?Huh?

Wikis Made SimpleWikis Made Simple

A website you, or A website you, or anyone you allow, anyone you allow, can change can change

You don’t need to You don’t need to know HTML know HTML

WYSIWYG Editor: WYSIWYG Editor: What you see is what What you see is what you get!you get!

If you can create a If you can create a Word document, you Word document, you can Wiki!can Wiki!

Video: Wikis Made Simple

Educational WikisEducational Wikis

PB WorksPB Works Wiki SpacesWiki Spaces Both are free for Both are free for

educatorseducators Both generate Both generate

student accounts student accounts without emailswithout emails

http://www.abelearn.ca/UserFiles/Servers/Server_118790/Image/tools%20and%20resources/tools/wiki%20graphic.gif

http://http://www.wikispaces.com/www.wikispaces.com/

http://pbworks.com/http://pbworks.com/

Two Buttons: Edit and Two Buttons: Edit and SaveSave

What Can Students Do What Can Students Do With a Wiki?With a Wiki?

CREATE!CREATE! PUBLISH!PUBLISH! ALL ALL

Students Students Have a Have a VoiceVoice

Create ProjectsCreate Projects

Build collaborative pages, start discussions and Build collaborative pages, start discussions and encourage comments.encourage comments.

Sample Student Wiki Page

Create e-portfoliosCreate e-portfolios

Student Wiki PageStudent Wiki Page HomeworkHomework Individual and Individual and

Collaborative Collaborative ProjectsProjects

Discussions on Discussions on relevant topicsrelevant topics

Can share work Can share work with otherswith others

Collaborate!Collaborate!

Share and interact Share and interact with other with other classrooms classrooms

Locally (between Locally (between classes within classes within school)school)

Regionally (school Regionally (school district)district)

Globally (the Globally (the world!)world!)

Collaboration Collaboration

Breaks down Breaks down barriersbarriers

Builds Builds understanding understanding across culturesacross cultures

Is vital for Is vital for success in the success in the 2121stst century century

http://innovationzen.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/races.jpg

Conservation Across Conservation Across BoundariesBoundaries

Hinsdale, MontanaHinsdale, Montana

Eagleville, PennsylvaniaEagleville, Pennsylvania

MisconceptionsMisconceptions

Montana students Montana students thought students thought students from Pennsylvaniafrom Pennsylvania Ate a lot of meatAte a lot of meat Were all Were all

wealthywealthy Were fatWere fat

http://www.carletoncoop.ca/meat%20new.JPG

MisconceptionsMisconceptions Pennsylvania students Pennsylvania students

thought students from thought students from MontanaMontana Were not as smart Were not as smart

as they wereas they were Rode horses most Rode horses most

of the time, of the time, including to schoolincluding to school

Lived much like Lived much like what was depicted what was depicted in the “old west”in the “old west”

Comparing Montana and Comparing Montana and Pennsylvania EcosystemsPennsylvania Ecosystems

Started by predicting what students from Started by predicting what students from partner school were likepartner school were like

Wrote snail-mail letters introducing Wrote snail-mail letters introducing themselves to partner schoolthemselves to partner school

Students created and exchanged Power Students created and exchanged Power Points about the area and leaf and forbs Points about the area and leaf and forbs collectionscollections

Taught partner school about local ecosystem Taught partner school about local ecosystem (Tall Grass Prairie and Deciduous Forest) (Tall Grass Prairie and Deciduous Forest)

Culminated in a video conference in the Culminated in a video conference in the springspring

OutcomesOutcomes Students learned Students learned

about their local about their local ecosystem as well ecosystem as well as another as another ecosystem ecosystem

Took pride in Took pride in creating projects for creating projects for their partner schooltheir partner school

Stereotypes were Stereotypes were eliminatedeliminated

Had funHad fun

My “Aha’s”My “Aha’s” If Wal-Mart is 200 miles away, you better make If Wal-Mart is 200 miles away, you better make

sure you have all the supplies you need before sure you have all the supplies you need before you plan a lab activityyou plan a lab activity

Not everyone has access to high speed InternetNot everyone has access to high speed Internet In a small school you might teach 6 subjects, In a small school you might teach 6 subjects,

coach numerous sports, be part-time librarian, coach numerous sports, be part-time librarian, and have students working on AP Biology via and have students working on AP Biology via independent studyindependent study

If you’re the only science teacher in the If you’re the only science teacher in the building you have the same students for 6 building you have the same students for 6 yearsyears You get to know parents really wellYou get to know parents really well You build a relationship with students over several You build a relationship with students over several

yearsyears

2010-11: Our Footprint2010-11: Our Footprint

Siemen’s STEM InstituteSiemen’s STEM Institute

http://stem.discoveryeducation.com/

Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii

Liz Castillo Liz Castillo Kamehameha Kamehameha

Middle SchoolMiddle School 77thth Grade Life Grade Life

ScienceScience

Battle Creek, MichiganBattle Creek, Michigan

Mary LindowMary Lindow Mathematics & Mathematics &

Science CenterScience Center 1111thth & 12 & 12thth Grade Grade

Biology and Biology and Environmental Environmental ScienceScience

Eagleville, PennsylvaniaEagleville, Pennsylvania

Patty McGinnisPatty McGinnis Arcola Arcola

Intermediate Intermediate SchoolSchool

77thth Grade Life Grade Life Science and Gifted Science and Gifted SupportSupport

The Problem The Problem QuestionQuestion

What is unique about the What is unique about the environment you live in?environment you live in?

What impact do human’s have on What impact do human’s have on this environment?this environment?

What actions can be taken to What actions can be taken to positively impact the positively impact the environment?environment?

Communicating and Communicating and Collaborating Through Collaborating Through

Technology Technology WikispacesWikispaces GlogsterGlogster PodcastsPodcasts VideoVideo PicturesPictures

Sharing - FeedbackSharing - Feedback

ReflectionReflection What are the similarities and differences What are the similarities and differences

between different environments?between different environments? Why should we care about Why should we care about

environmental problems outside of our environmental problems outside of our neighborhood?neighborhood?

How can we work to solve How can we work to solve environmental problems?environmental problems?

How did working with others increase How did working with others increase our understanding of local and global our understanding of local and global environments?environments?

How to Start How to Start

Start SmallStart Small Have students Have students

collaborate within a collaborate within a class or between class or between classesclasses

Ready to Branch Ready to Branch Out?Out?

Finding Potential Finding Potential PartnersPartners http://www.epals.cohttp://www.epals.co

m/m/ http://www.flatclasshttp://www.flatclass

roomproject.org/roomproject.org/

iEARN: Learn With the iEARN: Learn With the WorldWorld

http://www.iearn.org/http://www.iearn.org/

125 Countries

30 Languages

26,000 Educators

2 Million Youth

“My Identity, Your Identity” iEARN Project

Current iEARN Projects

E PalsE Pals

http://www.epals.com/

E PalsE Pals

Classrooms in 200 Classrooms in 200 countries and countries and territoriesterritories

Connect learners Connect learners locally, nationally or locally, nationally or internationallyinternationally

Provide safe and Provide safe and protected email protected email between studentsbetween students

License required License required (cost ?)(cost ?)

Flat Classroom ProjectFlat Classroom Project

Students from Students from other countries other countries work in teams to work in teams to create videos create videos about social issuesabout social issues

$50$50 http://www.flatclashttp://www.flatclas

sroomproject.org/sroomproject.org/

Flat Classroom Project: Flat Classroom Project: ERACISMERACISM

Taking it GlobalTaking it Global

For youth interested For youth interested in global changein global change

Connects students to Connects students to global issues such as global issues such as the environment, the environment, world hunger, world hunger, climate changeclimate change

Geared to middle Geared to middle and high school and high school studentsstudents

Free to educatorsFree to educatorshttp://www.tigweb.org/

DrawbacksDrawbacks Lack of computersLack of computers Not every child has Not every child has

access to high speed access to high speed InternetInternet

Technical issuesTechnical issues Lack of clear Lack of clear

expectations for students: expectations for students: Provide ScaffoldingProvide Scaffolding

Lack of quality Lack of quality Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Internet Safety IssuesInternet Safety Issues

Professional Learning Professional Learning NetworksNetworks

Build your PLN Build your PLN through social through social networks like Twitter networks like Twitter and Edmodo and Edmodo

Share ideas, Share ideas, collaboratecollaborate

Social Networks for Social Networks for TeachersTeachers TwitterTwitter Classroom20.comClassroom20.com Edmodo.comEdmodo.com

Technology + Students = Technology + Students = LearningLearning

Is engaging Is engaging Technology addresses all learning styles; Technology addresses all learning styles;

visual, auditory, and kinestheticvisual, auditory, and kinesthetic Can be differentiated for all levels of studentsCan be differentiated for all levels of students Builds 21Builds 21stst Century Skills like Collaboration Century Skills like Collaboration Prepares students to work in a Global Prepares students to work in a Global

EnvironmentEnvironment Break down barriers between culturesBreak down barriers between cultures Can be used effectively with a few simple Web Can be used effectively with a few simple Web

2.0 tools2.0 tools

Need Ideas???Need Ideas???

http://www.ictinedhttp://www.ictineducation.org/free-stucation.org/free-stuff/uff/

http://www.classrohttp://www.classroom20.com/om20.com/

http://http://stem.discoveryedustem.discoveryeducation.com/cation.com/

It’s Never too Early to It’s Never too Early to StartStart

http://www.ideachampions.com/weblogs/collaboration.png

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

Questions?Questions?

http://http://tech4msd.wikispaces.com/tech4msd.wikispaces.com/