Using Engaging and Using Engaging and Empowering Software Empowering Software Solutions to Differentiate Solutions to Differentiate InstructionInstruction

Session 1: Thursday, July 23, 9:15-11:45amSession 2: Thursday, July 23, 12:45-3:30pmFacilitators: Valrie Edwards & James McDermott Facilitators: Valrie Edwards & James McDermott Dept. of eLearning Services, OCSAEDept. of eLearning Services, OCSAE

Janet Zarecor, Renzulli Learning Janet Zarecor, Renzulli Learning SystemSystem

A G E N D AA G E N D A

Welcome & IntroductionsWelcome & Introductions How can educational software How can educational software

differentiate instruction?differentiate instruction? Differentiate instruction with Differentiate instruction with

DimensionM Differentiate instruction DimensionM Differentiate instruction with Renzulli with Renzulli

ReflectionReflection EvaluationEvaluation

“The biggest mistake of past centuries in teaching has been to treat all children as if they were

variants of the same individual, and thus to feel justified in teaching them

the same subjects in the same ways”.

Howard Gardner

Differentiation of Instruction

“ is a teacher’s response to learner’s needs guided by general principles of differentiation such as:

Respectful Tasks Flexible Grouping Ongoing Assessment & Adjustments”

Carol Ann Tomlinson

Differentiation of Instruction is ateacher’s response to learner’s needs.

Why Why differentiatedifferentiate instruction?instruction?

Large class sizesLarge class sizes Lack of engagement Lack of engagement Lack of practice and applicationLack of practice and application Lack of time on taskLack of time on task Different learning stylesDifferent learning styles

How do online environments How do online environments engage and empower engage and empower students?students? Provide learning experiences based onProvide learning experiences based on

– abilities, learning styles, interest & abilities, learning styles, interest & expressionsexpressions

Provide immediate feedback Provide immediate feedback Provide opportunities for collaboration Provide opportunities for collaboration

and peer tutoringand peer tutoring

Virtual environments promote Virtual environments promote 21st-century skills21st-century skills

lead to student achievementlead to student achievement– digital-age literacydigital-age literacy– inventive thinkinginventive thinking– effective communicationeffective communication– high productivityhigh productivity

More collaboration and peer tutoringMore collaboration and peer tutoring Engage and motivateEngage and motivate Promote critical thinkingPromote critical thinking Increase time on tasksIncrease time on tasks

Tabula Digita’s Tabula Digita’s DimensionMDimensionM

DimensionM™is an immersive video DimensionM™is an immersive video game which reinforces pre-algebra game which reinforces pre-algebra and algebra objectives through a and algebra objectives through a series of missions that bring math series of missions that bring math into a world that today's students into a world that today's students

understand. understand.

www.tabuladigita.comwww.tabuladigita.com

DimensionM supports DimensionM supports your critical challengesyour critical challenges

Alignment to NY state standards Alignment to NY state standards Track and report customized results Track and report customized results Support instruction for high impact Support instruction for high impact

objectives objectives Integrate differentiated instructional Integrate differentiated instructional

strategies strategies Introduce new math concepts Introduce new math concepts Reinforce student learning and mastery Reinforce student learning and mastery Extend learning into the home Extend learning into the home Target key math objectives covered on your Target key math objectives covered on your

state test state test Capture your students interest in mastering Capture your students interest in mastering

mathmath

How does DimensionM How does DimensionM differentiates differentiates instruction?instruction? Pre-assessment

Readiness to learn

Intrinsic motivation and active, student-centered learning

Preferred mode of learning

Flexible grouping opportunities

Process and learning modalities

Timed races increase

competition and engagement

Instructions tell students what to

do

Points are awarded based on solving the

math

Multiple users can play in the

same environment

DimensionMDimensionMMultiplayer Educational Games

Math presented in game

Effectiveness and Effectiveness and Accountability: ReportingAccountability: Reporting

Skill and topic proficiency can be assessed at the group (e.g. district) or individual level

We must engage today’s students in the learning process and

educational gaming is a powerful method that allows for

differentiated instruction with demonstrated results.

RenzulliRenzulli

Reflection Reflection

EvaluationEvaluation