| Web-basedTeaching Strategies for Diverse Learners: |
| For primary sources and original research on the topic of gifted and learning disabled students, Click here: ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education Webquests can provide more than one "exit point" for your students: Webquests, by their very nature, can provide a very rich set of possibilities for learners. Each link opens up a new path to explore. This characteristic makes them perfectly adaptable to the learning needs of students with differences in ability. One way to structure individualized instruction is to imagine one exit point for the students who might only be able to accomplish the basic skills/goals of your lesson. Imagine a more difficul exit point for the students who work more quickly. Don't forget your gifted students. Try to structure a challenging exit point that will give them an opportunity to stretch into the upper levels of Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge level: Recalling facts & info (activities: tell, list, define, label, recite, memorize, repeat, find, name, record, fill in, recall, relate) Comprehension level: Showing understanding (activitites: locate, explain, summarize, identify, describe, discuss, review, show, outline) Application level: Using what has been learned in new situations (activites: demonstrate, construct, revise, illustrate, dramatize, convert, order, display). Analysis level: Comparing concepts (activities: classify, critique, categorize, investigate, categorize, infer) Evaluation level: Judging worth (activities: justify, rate, select, decide, choose) Synthesis level: Creating something new (activities: compose, hypothesize, design, invent, develop, produce) Using webquests for Independent Study: Another way to diversify learning is to provide students opportunities for learning outside the normal curriculum. Webquest are particularly useful for this purpose because they are already structured with built-in tasks and evaluation so the teacher does not need to invest much more time that individualized instruction usually involves. Click here for some articles on Independent Study. 1. Compacting curriculum: Some students can complete your curriculum goals faster that others. Allow them to study the material at their own pace and give them an option to test out of the material when they are ready. If they can accomplish your goals early, it opens up an opportunity for them to pursue a topic of their own choice, a great motivating tool for middle school students. 2 Substitute independent study for regular class projects. When given their own choice of topics, students will often produce work that is far beyond their normal performance. 3. Extra credit opportunites: All levels of students appreciate the opportunity for extra credit. Lower ability students often feel frustrated because they cannot easily compete for the top grades in the class. Gifted students on the other hand do not necessarily produce top work within the regular class structure. Both kins of students can benefit from a chance to improve their grade with a project of their own choice. NOTE: If you do decide to use independent study projects to diversify your curriculum, be sure to have the students sign a contract ahead of time that spells out exactly what you expect him/her to accomplish. Click here to see examples of independent study contracts: Elementary level checklist-style contract School District of Springfield Township Student Profile Form & Independent Study Contract (pdf format) Where to find webquests: SESD (Over 1200 webquests available for all subjects) San Diego State University Webquest Matrix (all grade levels & subjects) Scholastic Internet Field Trips (see tabs at top for different subject areas) Blue Web'N (Over 1700 outstanding internet sites) ? |
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