http://msporter87.weebly.com
Laura Porter
January 25, 2015
EDU225
Mr. M
Raft Card Example:
Row 1
ROLE (student)
AUDIENCE
A DJ of a science radio Your favorite
station
radio station
listeners
FORMAT
An informative
podcast report
TOPIC
Have you ever
wondered what a
drop of water
feels like as it
travels through
the water cycle?
Objective:
You will be able to describe how a drop of water travels through the steps of the water cycle.
Student Role:
A DJ of a science radio station
Audience:
Your favorite radio station listeners
Format:
An informative podcast report
Topic:
Have you ever wondered what a drop of water feels like as it travels through the water cycle?
Directions:
1. Visit The Water Cycle: A Guide for Students to learn more about the water cycle.
2. Use a storyboard worksheet to map out your script.
3. Type your script so it is easy to read.
4. Practice reading your script aloud until you feel you can read it fluently and with
expression.
5. Create a Voki at Voki.com. Build a suitable avatar for this project.
6. Read and record your script as the Voki’s voice.
Resources:
Websites to visit:
Water Cycle Diagram
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/watercycle/
Water Education
http://www.watereducation.utah.gov/watercycle/water_cycle.asp
The Hydrological Cycle
http://www.sciencecourseware.com/eec/GlobalWarming/Tutorials/HydrologicalCycle/
The Water Cycle
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/water-cycle.htm
The Global Hydrological Cycle
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp58/5802001.html
Assessment:
Prepare a 1-minute script for a radio segment to explain how a drop of water travels through
the steps of the water cycle.
You will receive up to 25 points for each of the following: written script, storyboard, Voki, and
recorded script.
Raft Card 1:
Row 1
ROLE (student)
The school guidance
counselor
AUDIENCE
The senior class at
the school
FORMAT
A Microsoft
PowerPoint
TOPIC
Do you know how
to prepare your
college entrance
essay?
Objective:
Describe the steps in writing your college entrance essay.
Student Role:
The school guidance counselor
Audience:
The senior class
Format:
A Microsoft Word Document
Topic:
Do you know how to write your college entrance essay?
Directions:
1. Visit www.quintcareers.com/college_application_essay.html for tips in writing your
essay.
2. Create an outline to assist in starting your essay.
3. Brainstorm for ideas using your outline as your guide.
4. Prepare and proof your final essay.
5. Before typing your final essay, have someone else proofread it for you.
6. Submit your essay on the class website or turn it in to the teacher for grading.
Resources:
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/09/15/10-tips-for-writingthe-college-application-essay
www.quintcareers.com/college_application_essay.html
Assessment:
The essays will be graded and reviewed for corrections as well as proper format and guidelines
followed. The rubric will show how the essay should be formatted, as well as expectations from
the teacher. I hope this will help improve your writing skills and give you an idea of what
colleges look for in candidates. This assignment is worth 125 points and the rubric must be
followed.
Raft Card 2:
Row 2
ROLE (student)
A pilgrim from the
Mayflower
AUDIENCE
Present day
immigrants
FORMAT
A video
presentation
TOPIC
Can you imagine
living on a 17th
century sailing
vessel and
compare your
journey to theirs?
Objective:
Describe what life was like on a 17th century sailing ship journeying 3000 miles to a new land as
opposed to your journey.
Student Role:
A pilgrim on the Mayflower
Audience:
Present day immigrants
Format:
A video presentation
Topic:
The daily life of a passenger on the 17th century vessel the Mayflower was not easy and
describe how it compares to your journey.
Directions:
1. Go to Prezi.com for information on making the video presentation
2. Gather the material and create a slideshow to be converted to a video presentation.
3. Try to interview some immigrants for first-hand knowledge on their journeys.
4. Format, and edit the slide for errors and presentation, including appeal and visuals.
5. Present your slide to a peer for review and editing help.
6. Submit your video via the class website.
Resources:
http://www.ezvid.com/how_to_make_a_video_presentation_for_school_or_work
http://prezi.com/
Assessment:
Your video will be graded for originality as well as correct format, and creativity. This
assignment is worth 50% of your final grade.
Raft Card 3:
Row 3
ROLE (student)
A biology professor’s
lab assistant
AUDIENCE
Biology 1010
students
FORMAT
A poster
presentation
Objective:
Describe how photosynthesis is very important in the life process.
Student Role:
A biology professor’s lab assistant
Audience:
Biology 1010 class
Format:
Prepare this assignment using a poster board
TOPIC
How does
photosynthesis
aid in the life
process for all life
forms?
Topic:
How does photosynthesis aid in the life process for all life forms?
Directions:
1. Go to
http://www.bing.com/search?q=the%20process%20of%20photosynthesis&pc=cosp&pt
ag=AA0887274AC1B4AE38BF&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127 to begin research
on the topic.
2. Research the topic thoroughly to gather information.
3. Put together an outline that will assist in formatting the timeline on the tri-fold poster
board.
4. Gather pictures and other information that will be put on the board.
5. Assemble the board using the materials gathered.
6. Make sure all components are neat, thorough and completely shows the process of
photosynthesis and how important it is to all life forms.
Resources:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/biology/biology/photosynthesis/process-ofphotosynthesis
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/process-of-photosynthesis.html
Assessment: This assignment is worth 100 points and will be graded for neatness, presentation,
content, and overall appearance.
1/25/14
Differentiating Instruction through Technology
Introduction:
Despite obstacles that may come, differentiating instruction using technology for teachers and
students is unavoidable in this present age. And yes, technology can be used to meet the needs
of every student for every lesson (Tenkely, 2015). Yet, just as teachers pace the lessons when
verbally teaching, they can also use the technology to allow students to work at their own pace.
This paper will reflect that although tech tools may produce both potential good and bad
consequences, the digital tools used are valuable, can possibly greatly impact student
achievement, and must be tailored to meet the needs of every student.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction
Microsoft Power Point: One such tool that can be an asset, is the PowerPoint feature of the
Microsoft. PowerPoint is easy to manipulate and learn digital media authoring device and is
probably utilized in every classroom at every school that uses Microsoft products. It allows
teachers and students to create digital media presentations that can incorporate text, graphics,
animation, audio, video, links, and most importantly, interaction (Gunter, 2015). This web tool
can help the students power their imaginations and improve their computer skills. Lastly, it may
help improve their English skills when the students have to type information into the slides.
The Interactive White Board or Smart Board: The Interactive White Board (IWB) or Smart
board is another tool that is a great asset to digital instruction (Gunter, 2015). This board
essentially replaced the chalkboard and chalk, and turned the computer and data projector into
a powerful tool for teaching and learning (Gunter, 2015). To use most smart boards, simply
press on the large, touch sensitive, surface. By doing so, one can access and control any
computer application. When using this technology, the student can participate by doing handson work at the smart board, and briefly play the role of the teacher as he/she uses this
technology. The smart board is very convenient because it can be used in very large classrooms
because it displays enlarged instructional content in which the teacher and student can
manipulate (Royal, K., 2008). Yet in using technology such as this, teaching can be a challenge to
a teacher who is new to technology. It can be overwhelming trying to plan so many activities
that use digital media. That is why it can also be good to go back to old fashioned teaching that
does not implement technology in the process.
Google: Another tool that has to come to the forefront of the digital learning age is
Google. According to the web, most companies such as Microsoft and Apple influenced most
what people use to work, but have done little to improve how we work. Google has created and
helped make the web useful. Google software as Cloud computing has become invaluable.
Users can store and manipulate large amounts of user data on huge internet servers; the users
upload their data to a third party called the cloud (Films, 2011). Google is indeed an innovator
in technology and is ever-growing. They also offer many other tools such as Google maps where
users can get directions to any place in the world they need to go along with other valuable
information Google maps offers. There is also Google earth, map and sky, Gmail, YouTube and
Google books to name a few (Films, 2011). Google has definitely helped take the web
experience from the clouds into deep outer space where the sky is not the limit.
Pros and Cons:
No one can dispute the importance of using technology and one of the assets of using it
is to make the students proficient and highly skilled in using technology as well as helping the
teacher to move learning into the next century and beyond. The world and the workforce runs
on computers and innovative technology and the future workforce needs to be well prepared.
Using tech devices can make the lesson interactive, more interesting, and varied as compared
to teaching straight out of the book. One of the cons may be that the students can get really
dependent on technology and may become out of touch with valuable things such as going to a
library to find a book as opposed to opening an electronic book. Another downside may be that
in inclusion classrooms, some students may be more skilled at using technology and may make
other students who are less knowledgeable feel inadequate. The teacher will then have to
consider these details when including technology in everyday instruction.
Concluding Paragraph:
Nonetheless, from the textbook standpoint, one of the main reasons to utilize technology or
digital learning in the class is that it appeals to a variety of learning styles. It makes every
student active in the learning process instead of passive recipients of information. From
Microsoft PowerPoints, to Google, to Interactive White boards, technology is here to stay and
many aspects of each technology can be adapted and used by any and all age levels. It has been
stated that there is nothing new under the sun, but when it comes to technology, this is not the
case.
REFERENCES
Films, C. (2011, November 21). Google Tools for Education. Retrieved from Films on Demand:
http://digital.films.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=47365
Gunter, G. A. (2015). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Changing
World. Boston: Grand Canyon University.
Royal, K. (2008). Creating Technology Literate Educators. District Administration, 44(5), 18.
Tenkely, K. (2015). Teaching Community. Retrieved from Teaching Community:
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiateinstruction