DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Instituting education in the 21st century is an ongoing process. To differentiate

instruction through technology, a teacher has to develop lessons that are innovative and creative
ways for students to learn the subject and know what her classs abilities with digital media are.
Technology gives the teacher the tools necessary to instruct lessons to a diverse class with
different abilities, interests and curiosities. This document will address the technology tools that
best assist a teacher in todays classroom along with how it will influence a students educational
achievement to provide each student with a wide spectrum of learning tools.
USE OF POWERPOINT OR OTHER SLIDE SHOW APPLICATIONS
The student should have instruction on how to use this technology tool. Know your
students and determine if they have had any prior instruction on how to use this tool. To apply
differentiated instruction, the teacher must begin by assessing students prior knowledge,
interests, and learning style. (Whitney 2014). If there is limited knowledge of this tool, then the
teacher should give a brief instruction or tutorial of the software. This is an important tool for
students to familiarize themselves to prepare a presentation. A simple lesson using this
application can determine where your class stands individually on experience and adapt lesson to
that level. Some students, who have prior knowledge of the program, will be able to adapt
quickly to making elaborate presentations. Others may find it difficult at first, but with exposure,
will find they can utilize the program to their benefit.
USE OF PODCAST/VOKI AND OTHER ANIMATION PROGRAMS
Once you identify the major concepts, principles, and skills your students should learn,
then you can start to target your instruction to implement activities that address them. These
activities should include learning preferences, abilities, and interests. One interest that students

all seem to agree on is animation. Voki is a great web tool that lets students create an avatar to
represent them and then use a Podcast recording to add a voice to their avatar. Letting a student
create an animated person to be their voice gives the student a freedom to speak and act
differently than they might if they had to do a presentation in person in front of their peers. This
technology tool will target a students auditory and visual sensors in your teaching methodology.
Their creativity is abundant and can be limitless. The belief that all students, no matter who they
may be, learn best if they are able to create a connection between the assignments and what
interests them along with their experiences (Levy, 2008).
USE OF VIDEO AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS
Using video media methods of learning, whether it is a student viewing web videos or creating
one of their own, it is a fantastic tool to use in the classroom. As evident on social media, almost
every student can operate the video app on their phone. Taking photos and video segments is an
everyday occurrence for most teenagers. Using video to enhance their learning experience is a
new innovative technology. Video is a great tool to communicate information and ideas
effectively. Video can take a student places that they may never get to go and experience
moments that happened years before they were born. Most students enjoy watching a video
screen and listening to its content. It keeps them engaged by utilizing both their auditory and
visual senses.
PROS AND CONS OF USING DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
The use of these technology tools enables the teacher to be more diverse in their
instruction and target every student according to their ability. Differentiating instruction upon
personal learning styles leads to an improvement in the level of learning results (Tulbure 2011).
The mode of teaching to the middle does not intrigue the interests of the higher end, gifted

students and loses the lower end student by not stimulating their interests or creativity. Every
student learns at a different level, it is the responsibility of the instructor to use every avenue of
instruction to assure that every student in the classroom is learning. Differentiating instruction
does take extra time on the instructors part to find where the individual students abilities lye.
However, once they find a technique that works, it can be simply adapted to meet the needs of
every student. The teacher may want to involve their students by asking what technology they
would use for a certain assignment. Giving them a choice may enhance their enthusiasm towards
the project.
Differentiating Instruction through technology allows the instructor to target the method
of instructing towards every level of learner in their classroom. Adding technology tools to the
lesson allows creativity, innovation, and individualizes the students projects. Each student
remains engaged in the lesson or activity and can find their way of learning that suits them best.

We are all different and we all have a different style of learning, now it is time for teachers to
have a different style of teaching.
References
Whitney, R. R. (2014). Differentiating Instruction in Postsecondary Education. Radiologic
Technology, 85(4), 458-462.

Levy, M. (2008). Meeting the needs of all Students through differentiated Instruction: Helping
every child reach and exceed standards. Clearing House, 81(4), 161-164.
Tulbure, C. (2011). DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION UPON LEARNING STYLES IN
HIGHER EDUCATION: A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE. Bulletin Of The Transilvania
University Of Brasov. Series VII: Social Sciences. Law, (53), 79-84.