We are Living in a Technological World
Using Technology to Differentiate Gifted Students
In 1985 Madonna boldly sang that we were “living in a material world”.
So much has changed in 30 years.
Yes, as Americans we still love our stuff, but the one characteristic that defines this generation isn’t materialism it’s technology.
If I’m being honest, I never feel older than I do when I’m learning something new on my phone.
No, that’s not me in that photo, but I will confess that I definitely didn’t enter the world at the height of the technological age like so many of our gifted students.
Students today were practically born with a smartphone in their hand. Most children learn to surf the web younger than I learned to ride a bike!
It can be downright intimidating to start using technology to differentiate for gifted students, when many of our student know more about the technology than we do.
If that sounds like you, help is on the way!
In this 1-hour course, “Using Technology to Differentiate for Gifted Students”, history teacher Will Waghorne introduces a few of the most useful tech tools you can use to differentiate for your gifted students in the classroom. Mr. Waghorne’s easy-going, approachable style will have even the most tech-fearing teachers eager to give these tools a try.
Mr. Waghorne is a middle school history teacher in Austin, Texas. He enjoys working with, and teaching, gifted learners in digital environments, and also works to engage like-minded colleagues in an international personal learning network.
Our students are native speakers of the digital age!
If you want to connect with a student, particularly a gifted student, you have to speak their language. The one language most common to G/T students is technology. Mr. Waghorn encourages teachers to give these students the opportunity to engage with technology whenever possible.
Using technology to differentiate your gifted students provides the three C’s:
- Creates engagement
- Convenience
- Collaboration
Not every student works well in a group setting.
You’ll be amazed at how shy, quiet, or awkward students can blossom when they have the opportunity to collaborate on group projects using technology tools like Google Docs.
Don’t forget to set the ground rules
Using technology doesn’t come without some risks. Tech tools can be used to access questionable materials on the internet, and cases of cyberbullying have skyrocketed in the last five years.
Using technology in your classroom can be a great opportunity to create a teachable moment and set some ground rules for appropriate cyber behavior.
In this course, Mr. Waghorne offers some examples of how to set appropriate tech rules and policies. Here are a few of his recommended tips:
- Utilize campus rules
- If your campus doesn’t have a policy create your own using the internet to search for examples
- Collaborate with other teachers
- When making your policy, be sure to cover worst-case scenarios and protect the safety of your students
Think bigger than a Google search
A Google search is a great place to start when it comes to using technology, but your G/T students will quickly want a greater challenge.
Google has a host of other features, functions, and apps that will dazzle you and delight them. Things like:
- Google docs for individual and collaborative projects
- Google forms for hassle-free rubrics and student assessment
- Google forms for “Choose Your Own Adventure” projects
- Google Earth for exploring new places
- Google Chrome browser apps for adding great features and tools
- Google+ Hangouts for capturing screencasts and video conferencing with experts in a specific field of study
Mr. Waghorne provides actual links to free lesson plans that you can use with Google Maps and Google Earth. Social Studies, science, Language Arts… almost any topic you can imagine.
Technology tools you can put into practice right away!
Mr. Waghorne doesn’t just introduce these tools, he shows you how to use them and provides links to resources and examples. You’ll get the chance to observe how technology can make teaching and learning individualized for all students, while particularly challenging gifted students. Here are some of the other tools you’ll learn:
- Google Lit Trips
- AutoCrat
- Docutopus
- Yet Another Mail Merge
- Flubaroo
- Edmodo
This fast-paced course is so packed with great information, you won’t even notice an hour has gone by. It’s so easy, it won’t even feel like professional development!
Jump-start into the world of technology with this course!
Bundle this course into your customized 6-hour update, it’s the perfect alternative!
What better way to connect with and differentiate gifted students? This article isn’t enough to dig deep on the subject of differentiation for your gifted classroom.
But you can get Dr Waghorne’s lesson plans to get you up and running using Google’s tools when you add this course to your 6-hour bundle.
If you’re looking for an alternative to face-to-face training for your 6-hour update in gifted education, this is it!
Click here to get your 6-hour update bundle and add this course to your list!
Delivering Quality Training – No Matter Where You Are
Did you know that this course is mobile ready? That means you can complete the course on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer, or any other mobile device!
Photos courtesy of Flickr via quinn.anya, IntelFreePress, and Luiza Libardi
