Differentiation with Technology

How technology will be used within the lesson plan

National Geographic Kids will be used for its visuals of photos, videos, and information on different countries around the world. Students will explore these visuals while connecting it to the skill being focused on that day in the unit. Since we are focusing on words with the short e sound on day one, students will find countries on the list that include that sound and explore where it is on the map and discuss the photos and information shared.

Newsela will be used for its leveled texts that feature great discussion topics and comprehension activities. On day two of the unit, students are focusing on differentiating between the short and long e sounds, so students will be on the hunt for those as we read. The great thing about Newsela is that you can adjust the reading level of the text so students can have a better understanding of what they are reading.

The Peace Corps Global Connections program will be used for the final day of the unit as students use their writing for a letter to share with our pen pal class around the world. In this lesson on applying what they have learned about words with the e sound, they will be challenged to write as many words with those sounds in their sentences to form their letter to send through email.

How each technology engages students

Each technology throughout the unit lesson is being targeted for use in different ways to promote engagement. When students ask questions, comment on peer’s ideas, read out loud, and participate in discussions, they are engaged (Sharma, 2023) and these can all be done through the technology practices throughout this lesson. National Geographic Kids is being used for its visuals to engage students who prefer to see to understand, Newsela is being utilized for its rich texts that incorporate topics that bring people together in discussion, and the Peace Corps Global Connections program engages students in creating written correspondence to connect to real people in other parts of the world. Since these activities are being done in a small group, it would be more manageable to ensure the technology is being used correctly by students and I would monitor their written emails before we send them.

How each learning opportunity promotes global awareness or diverse cultural perspectives

Global citizenship nurtures respect and open-mindedness for others, global awareness, and empathy for intercultural understanding (Borders, 2018). Incorporating the visuals of different countries through National Geographic Kids allows students to see homes, buildings, food, currency, and some traditions of other cultures and discuss any similarities and differences to what they experience in their lives. The specific article chosen in the Newsela activity discusses a choice that was made that created a movement in different parts of the country. During this lesson we could highlight diversity and how each student comes to class with a different background that can enlighten other students (Edmentum, 2023). We could also discuss how they can use that diversity for good to create shifts in society and possibly their own movement. Writing to a pen pal class through the Global Connections program provides the opportunity for students to connect with other students in other parts of the world and share about their life and experiences in school to gain diverse perspectives of what other cultures might experience. All of these learning opportunities allow students to start talking, asking questions, broadening their horizons, and ultimately becoming globally aware.

References:

Innovative Instruction Corner