Using Engaging and

Empowering Software
Solutions to
Differentiate
Instruction

Session 1: Thursday, July 23, 9:15-11:45am

Session 2: Thursday, July 23, 12:45-3:30pm
Facilitators: Valrie Edwards & James McDermott
Dept. of eLearning Services, OCSAE
Janet Zarecor, Renzulli Learning
System
AGENDA
 Welcome & Introductions
 How can educational software
differentiate instruction?
 Differentiate instruction with
DimensionM Differentiate instruction
with Renzulli
 Reflection
 Evaluation
 “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
Why differentiate
instruction?
 Large class sizes
 Lack of engagement
 Lack of practice and application
 Lack of time on task
 Different learning styles
 Ineffective instruction
 Diversity in classroom
 ???
What is Differentiation
Instruction?

“Differentiation allows students

multiple options for taking in
information, making sense of ideas,
and expressing what they have
learned. A differentiated classroom
provides different avenues to
acquiring content, to processing or
making sense of ideas, and to
developing products so that each
student can learn effectively.”
Another view…

“Differentiating Instruction
means changing the pace,
level, or kind of instruction
you provide in response to
individual learners’ needs,
styles, or interests.”

Diane Heacox, from Differentiating

Instruction in the Regular Classroom,
2002
Differentiation of Instruction is a
teacher’s response to learner’s
needs.
Differentiation is a two-step
process:

1. Analyze the degree of challenge and

variety in your current instructional
plans.

3. Modify, adapt, or design new

approaches to instruction in response
to student’s needs, interests, and
learning preferences.

Diane Heacox,
How do online environments
engage and empower
students?
 Provide learning experiences based on
– abilities, learning styles, interest &
expressions
 Provide immediate feedback
 Provide opportunities for collaboration
and peer tutoring
Virtual environments promote
21st-century skills
 lead to student achievement
– digital-age literacy
– inventive thinking
– effective communication
– high productivity
 More collaboration and peer
tutoring
 Engage and motivate
 Promote critical thinking

Tabula Digita’s
DimensionM

DimensionM™is an immersive video

game which reinforces pre-algebra
and algebra objectives through a
series of missions that bring math
into a world that today's students
understand.

www.tabuladigita.com
DimensionM supports
your critical challenges
 Alignment to NY state standards
 Track and report customized results
 Support instruction for high impact
objectives
 Integrate differentiated instructional
strategies
 Introduce new math concepts
 Reinforce student learning and mastery
 Extend learning into the home
 Target key math objectives covered on
your state test
 Capture your students interest in
How does DimensionM
differentiates
instruction?
 Pre-assessment

 Readiness to learn

 Intrinsic motivation and active, student-

centered learning

 Preferred mode of learning

 Flexible grouping opportunities

 Process and learning modalities

DimensionM
Instructions tell
students what to
Multiplayer Educational Games
do

Points are
awarded based
on solving the
math
Math presented in
game

Multiple users
Timed races can play in the
increase same
competition and environment
engagement
Effectiveness and
Accountability: Reporting

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

Evaluation:

http://tinyurl.com/Deptof
eLearningsurvey
 Contact Info.

James McDermott –
jmcdermott@schools.nyc.gov
Valrie Edwards –
vedwards@schools.nyc.gov
Dept. of eLearning –
schools.nyc.gov/elearning

Renzulli - Janet Zarecor

janet.zarecor@hotmail.com