Technology-Enhanced+Lessons+for+All+Learners

Technology should not be taught in isolation. Technology should be used to support activities that have already been developed in order to improve student achievement. What will students learn? Which strategies will provide evidence of student learning? Which strategies help students acquire and integrate learning? Which strategies will help students practice, review, and apply learning? Pitler's four planning questions should be used in designing a lesson that meets individual students' needs. In order to answer the first question, educators must turn to the state standards for the content area first and then add technology application standards that support the content standards. Texas teachers need not look far for the technology standards. The state has Technology Applications that students must master by the 8th grade. Once the standards and objectives have been chosen, instructional strategies that allow for feedback and recognition will provide evidence of student learning. The activities chosen should demonstrate students’ learning and drive instruction. The strategies that help students acquire and integrate learning include questioning, using graphic organizers, summarizing, note taking, cooperative learning, and reinforcing. Technology could be integrated here, as well as differentiated instruction. Students need to be able to continue practicing the standards after they’ve been taught in class so that students may master the content. To help plan for instruction, one can turn to CAST’s Universal Design for Learning to provide flexible goals, methods, materials, and assessments that accommodate diverse learners.