Using Technology to Meet the Needs of a Multi-level Classroom

Using Technology to Meet the Needs of a Multi-level Classroom

Todd W. JornsSenior Director for Educational TechnologyIllinois Community College Board

Multi-level ClassroomDeliberately-formed multilevel classes are created based on these assumptions:

that all human beings have strengths as well as challenges;

that all have something to contribute to enrich the group’s learning;

that communities are actually strengthened by the diversity of their members.

Multi-level ClassroomWorking collaboratively across their differences in

class helps students to work more effectively with all kinds of people in their day-to-day lives and is an important work skill.

People become increasingly literate and knowledgeable about the world by actively engaging with others, talking, discussing, and sharing their own experiences and perspectives.

Multi-level ClassroomCreates a climate where students learn with and

from each other.Breaks down the isolation that many feel upon

entering a program/classroom.Helps participants identify and act on issues that

are central to their lives.

Multi-level ClassroomLearners may work in small groups or pairs.At the same skill level or at different levels with

the more advanced students taking on a teaching role which helps with learning retention.

Grounds their own learning and develops their leadership skills.

Ensure the process of building community and building basic skills are not in opposition to one another, but complement and enhance each other.

Effective StrategiesEncourage students to take responsibility for their

own learning.Teacher becomes the guide on the side.Assist students in becoming assertive consumers

of their own education. Provides transferable skills for students to

become more active in getting what they need out of a class and life as well.

Effective StrategiesThe simple use of newsprint may be one of the

more effective strategies for working with multilevel groups.

A multilevel group establishes a pattern of talking, posting ideas on newsprint, reflecting on these ideas, and then adding to them.

This collective pad of paper seems to help students improve their literacy skills (wiki).

Effective StrategiesLong- term projects allow students to assume

responsibility for leadership roles and other tasks.Students can participate in a variety of ways and

all contribute to a unified effort with an actual end result (team work).

Technologies: Newsletters, video projects, or publications of student writings (wikis or blogs).

Effective StrategiesChoose movies, TV shows, commercials.Select materials with a strong narrative, vivid

characters, humorous, slapstick and that connect to students own background.

Develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities around the video segment.

Technologies: DVDs, Podcasts & Vodcasts.

Effective StrategiesAccess to Internet-based resources allow students

to find answers to their questions. Expands learning beyond the boundary of the

classroom.Students use reading, writing, and math skills in

real-world settings. Make meaning out of large amounts of information.

Technologies: Electronic field trips & guest lecturers.

Effective StrategiesAny skill is learned best when imbedded in

content (of interest to the learner and has meaning in the context of that learner’s life).

Learning occurs when it is active, not passive (activities that encourage action, challenges, and interaction with others).

Technology broadens the opportunity for teaching in context and for learning in an active way.

TechnologiesPaper & Pencil/PenBooksCalculatorsComputersEducational SoftwareWord ProcessingSpreadsheets

TechnologiesInternet (search es, info gathering, etc.)EmailElectronic field trips/Digital guest lecturesWebinarsWeb 2.0 Tools (wikis, blogs, podcasts, etc.)Videoconferencing (Telepresence)

InternetInformation gatheringFact checking Communicating (email, IM, etc.)Socializing & datingEntertainment & gamesOnline banking, shopping & greetingsAnd more…

WikisA wiki is computer software that allows users

to easily create, edit and link web pages. Ideal tool for collaborative work done by both

students and teachers. Students collaboratively work on the content of

a wiki using only a web browser.Students can use wikis to collaborate on group

reports, compiling data or sharing the results of their project or research.

BlogsBlog is short for Web log. A frequent, chronological publication of personal

thoughts and Web links.A blog is often a mixture of what is happening in a

person's life and what is happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/guide site.

There are as many unique types of blogs as there are people.

Podcast(iPOD broadCAST) is an audio broadcast that has

been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer.

The "pod" in podcast was coined from "iPod," the predominant portable, digital music player, and although podcasts are mostly verbal, they may contain music.

Video Podcasts - vodcasts

Social Networking SitesA Web site that provides a virtual community for

people interested in a particular subject or just to "hang out" together.

Members communicate by voice, chat, instant message, videoconference and blogs

The "social networking site" is the 21st century term for "virtual community.”

FaceBook, MySpace, Second Life, etc.

Benefits of TechnologyIncreases flexibility for multi-level classroomProvides access to expertiseFacilitates discussion among learnersReduces feeling of isolationIncreases learner autonomySupports collaborative learning

Benefits of TechnologyIncreases technological literacyPractice important skillsLearn wonderful thingsEngage studentsComplement & extend instructionShould be fun!

Multi-levelMulti-

learningClassroom!

Think Different!

QuestionsTodd W. Jorns(217) 785-0144

Todd.Jorns@illinois.govwww.flip4u.org