Assessing Technology-Based Resources for Differentiation


Assessing Technology-Based Resources for Differentiation

In a world where education is critical, understanding available technologies is equally critical.  Equipping students to be competitive in a post modern world means equipping them with not only content knowledge but technology skills that they can take into the workplace.   The following are options to support differentiation in the classroom as well as with technology use. 

I. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI writing application that will use input parameters to create text based correspondence, including text messages, emails, letters, essays, and even lesson plans.

Ease of Use / User Friendliness:  Easy to use for both teacher and students, though those with learning differences may need some help navigating or deciding which parameters to enter.

Practicality of Incorporation: This application is best for those in upper elementary through high school due to the need for being able to discern the most appropriate cues to provide to the AI.

Cost: Free

Cross - Curricular Ability: ChatGPT is completely cross-curricular since writing occurs in every content area.  For example, in a Business Studies course, students may use ChatGPT to help write a resume when they outline their experiences and skills.

Readiness/Interest/Learning Styles: Best for visual or auditory learners and those who have basic keyboarding and writing skills.  

II. Voice to Text/Text to Voice -  Available on MacOS, voice to text is an application that can convert voice to text and, in some cases, text to voice accessed through keyboard settings. There is a similar application available on Windows.  

Ease of Use / User Friendliness:  This technology is user-friendly once the steps for accessing the tool are mastered.

Practicality of Incorporation: With this application, there are privacy concerns since it accesses names of contacts and because the information is sent to apple and then converted to text (Touch Technology Review, 2022).  Easily incorporated to the classroom with technology readily available. This technology may have limitations if there are those with speech needs. See a demonstration here: Enabling Speech to Text on MacOSX

Cost: Free

Cross - Curricular Ability: This tool is incredibly practical to incorporate for students who have accommodations or modifications that minimize the amount of writing required or for those who struggle to get their thoughts on paper but who are able to process their thoughts out loud. 

Readiness/Interest/Learning Styles: Best for auditory learners, but it can be a useful tool for those interested in trying new approaches and technology. One example of this tool in use is to have students tell a story aloud and have the application convert it to text while working on a creative writing piece.

III. Flip (formerly known as Flipgrid) is "an online video recording program that allows users to record themselves based on criterion set out by the person who assigns the task (Fleming, 2024). .

Ease of Use / User Friendliness:  Using the technology is as straightforward as pressing a button to record and the submission instructions are easy to follow.

Practicality of Incorporation: Flip can be used to record interactions of solo, duet or group work. Younger students may need assistance the first time or two. Teachers can use Flip to literally "flip" their instruction, but having students watch a video of their lesson at home and then doing classwork instead of homework. Technology equity needs to be considered with this approach.

Cost: Free

Cross - Curricular Ability: This application can be used in a variety of ways and settings, assigned as at home work where there is confirmed technology available, or in classrooms. For example, students in choir can record their individual choral line and submit it for assessment or students in science can explain how a plant cell is constructed.

Readiness/Interest/Learning Styles: Kinesthetic, visual, and auditory learners can use this application. It provides opportunity for varying learning styles and interests.

IV. How Flip and ChatGPT promote learning and creates ownership of learning

Both Flip and ChatGPT require students to take ownership of their learning by requiring them to know what it is they want to communicate. With Flip, it is an oral and visual expression of that communication and with ChatGPT, students need to be able to synthesize information to provide ChatGPT with what it needs to complete the task.

References

ChatGPT. (n.d.). https://chat.openai.com/auth/login

Fleming, K. (2024). Unpublished paper. Grand Canyon University.

Flip. (n.d.). https://info.flip.com/en-us.html

Touch Technology Review. (2022). How to activate and use speech to text on MAC OSX. [Video].                 YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jZaMtUU1Og

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