This module has helped me think about self-directed learners and the role of differentiation in the following ways.....

If I have students that are accelerating at a rapid pace and others that are struggling academically, I should meet their needs by differentiating their instruction. In order to provide a successful classroom for my students, I need to take the time to research various teaching strategies, as well as researching ways I can accommodate them through tools, techniques, etc. I have learned that I do not have to come up with extra projects or longer assignment to challenge my gifted/talented students. Instead, I can model and coach them, allow them more time to develop a complex idea or thought, and offer them several choices on how they could present their research to me. I can also guide them in their time management, goals, and flow of their projects. I can offer special needs and nonnative speaking students a variety of tools (hardware and software) that will help them with their reading, speaking, and comprehension. I can offer a variety of materials for these students through a classroom website, so that students and parents can access materials at any time. If I can be more flexible in my teaching strategies, and provide alternative assessments to my students, I can help them be successful no matter the learning level.

How can technology be used most effectively to support and assess student learning?

I think that technology can be used in many different ways to support and assess student learning. It can be used in the classroom to support a lesson. Images and video clips can be used to show examples, introduce a lesson, make a point, challenge students, etc. Teachers can assign projects that utilize tools found online that are easy to use and are free. This helps students present their ideas in other ways that are not written by hand or typed on a computer. Technology can challenge students to think critically and be creative. Online games and quizzes can be used as a fun way to reinforce student knowledge. They can help students practice a newly learned skill, reinforce a previous skill, or challenge them beyond what they know. Technology can also be used to assess what a student should know at the end of a unit. There are many tools available out on the world wide web for all content areas. For example, if a student has just finished learning all six elements of design - line, shape/form, color, value, texture, and space/perspective - the teacher should be able to assess their knowledge by having the student present what they learned using a technology tool (presentation, reflective blog, wiki, newsletter, etc.).