Technology+Integration

 Following the edutopia.org link I watched the video entitled “ Differentiated Instruction: Fast Track to the Top”. The film gives a brief overview about Mesquite Elementary and their rise from a “performing” school to an “accelerating” school as defined by state standards. The school was able to accomplish this by taking their teacher collaboration to a new level and applying it to the entire district while incorporating a teaching strategy called “Reteach and Enrich”. This teaching method allows for time to be set aside each day so that students can revisit specific concepts in their studies that they haven’t quite yet grasped. I liked the video because it demonstrates how important it is to give kids one on one time when they need extra help. It seems like many schools today are pressured to have an immediate soar or crash approach to teaching and many kids that could otherwise excel are getting left behind. I can see how technology integration could be beneficial with this “Reteach and enrich” program in the use of other media to help kids who are struggling. I personally am a visual leaner and am able to retain information better when it is presented as text that leaves an visual imprint for me or with visual aids as in documentaries as opposed to just lecture. I imagine different forms of technology could just be the key that helps children make a connection.

 In my classroom I plan to integrate technology to get the attention of the kids and help them engage in the material they need to learn. For example, learning about history would be more fun if you were working together to create a film reenacting a past event, or using games to help children improve on their math skills. Videos and other forms of media will also help keep the kids attention, but keeping the balance between fun and overloading is important.