Steven Adams

http://stevenadams75.weebly.com/
EDU-225
June 11, 2016

Raft Task Card

This RAFT Card is designed for 4th grade level.
ROLE (student)
Early Explorer

AUDIENCE
The President and

FORMAT
Skype

Congress

TOPIC
To explore the
newly acquired

Row 1
Louisiana

horse

Botanist and

PowerPoint

Purchase.
To give

Zoologist

presentation

information about
the Flora and

Row 2
Fauna of the
Northwest United
Other Native
Row 3

Native American

Blog post

Americans

States.
Description of
encounter with
Lewis and Clark

RAFT Row 1
Objective: You will be able to tell what future states were crossed on this journey, rivers,
and other significant natural wonders that were encountered.

Ohio State Standard Grade 4 Concept Spatial Thinking and Skills Content Statement 9,
Places and Regions Content Statement 11
ISTE Standard: 1. Research and Information Fluency (a, b, c, d)
Student Role: Early Explorer
Audience: The President and Congress
Format: Skype call
Topic: Exploration of the Louisiana Purchase

Directions: Read the articles about Lewis and Clarks Expedition and then watch the video
about the Lewis and Clark Expedition taking notes during the presentation. Write a short
essay using netbooks about the expedition which is worth 25 points and then complete quiz
presented in a PowerPoint about the expedition thats worth 25 points.
Resources: http://www.history.com/topics/lewis-and-clark
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/journey_intro.html
http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/lewisclark.htm

Assessment: Group Power Point presentation detailing the journey of Lewis and Clark and
the impact of their excursion. The project is worth 100 points.

RAFT Row 2
Objective: To name some of the newly discovered animal and plant species during the
journey.
Ohio State Standard Grade 4 Concepts Life Science Interpreting and Communicating
Science Concepts
ISTE Standard: 2. (a and b) 3 Research and Information Fluency (a, b, c, d)
Student Role: One of the Horses thats part of the Expedition.
Audience: Botanist and Zoologist
Format: PowerPoint Presentation
Topic: To give information about the Flora and Fauna of the Northwest United States.

Directions: To create a list of animals and plants dividing them into different groups
according to characteristics and then writing a brief description
Resources: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/resources_discoveries.html
http://mrnussbaum.com/lewis-clark/discoveries/

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?
p=plants+and+animals+discovered+by+lewis+and+clark&ei=UTF8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

Assessment: To be able write an essay on a plant or animal species discovered by Lewis and
Clark (100 to 150 words)

RAFT Row 3
Objective: To give a description of the cultural exchange between the Native Americans
and The Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Student Role: Native American (Sacagawea)

Audience: Other Native Americans (Blackfoot, Shoshones, etc.)

Format: Blog
Topic: Description of encounter with Lewis and Clark

Directions: Complete a reflection journal on your thoughts of the meeting between Lewis
and Clark and the Native Americans.
Resources: http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/native/index.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/resources_discoveries_tribe.html
http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/nations.htm

Assessment: Timed writing assignment: Students will be evaluate on recollection of details

of the meeting between the Native Americans and Lewis and Clark Expedition in essay
form for 15 minutes. Maximum points to be earned is 50 points.

Section Four: Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Introduction
Today education has evolved to be a more inclusive and globally based environment now.
The introduction of a variety of technologies has given educators the flexibility to adapt to
students of a variety of backgrounds. The student population today must be able to cope with the
demands of being globally aware and critical thinkers and educators must prepare them to
succeed. This essay will introduce several technology tools that allow for differentiate instruction
to help students to acquire the skills necessary in the world today.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction
Name of Technology Tool: Touchscreen Monitors
The Touchscreen Monitor allows students with under developed hand eye coordination
skills to use the computer for certain touchscreen friendly programs. For students whose reading
skills are far below their grade level it allows them to access videos of a variety subject matter
allowing them to share in the experience with fellow classmates. The teacher would choose a
interactive site that has voice narration on touch. The student could then do a sorting activity by
dragging objects to their appropriate groupings. This gives the student the ability to understand
classification through the sorting of objects.
ISTE Standards

6. Technology Operations and Concepts (a and b)(ISTE Student Standards 2015) the
connection to this standard is to teach versatility in using various forms of technology to access
content. Technology makes it possible to pace lessons appropriately for each students learning
level and can be used to promote learning in the multiple intelligences. (Teaching Community
2015) This is especially in reference to special needs students.
Name of Technology Tool: Smartboards
The Smartboard is a tool that not allows for video projects to be seen on it but is a
interactive chalkboard. The teacher could use the smartboard for differentiate instruction for
students who have a difficult time with writing and reading comprehension. Working in a group
it allows for a student to interact in a fun and engaging way. This will develop confidence in the
student. The student could come up and identify objects such as mountains and rivers on a map.
ISTE Standards 2 Communication and Collaboration (a) and ISTE Standard 6 Technology
Operations and Concepts (a and b) teachers can differentiate four elements of instruction:
content, process, product, and learning environment. They also can differentiate instruction based
on student traits, such as readiness, learning profile, interest, and affect.(eSchool News 2015)

Name of Technology Tool: Tablets

The tablets can be loaded with a variety of programs to suit a variety of student needs and
due to the obvious ability to take and use in a variety of places. The teacher can align the variety
of programs to suit the skill level for the student that uses it. The tablet will allow the student to
operate at level that is comfortable for the student build confidence.
ISTE Standards 2 Communication and Collaboration (a), Digital Citizenship (b)
Differentiated instruction (DI) with the use of technology offers the opportunity for teachers to

engage students in different modalities, while also varying the rate of instruction, complexity
levels, and teaching strategies to engage and challenge students. (Flice,H, Crowe, M.W,
Stanford,P 2010)

Pros and Cons

The pros of using technology to differentiate instruction are numerous. Technology gives you
the flexibility to adapt to a students needs. Technology gives you the tools necessary to assess
and then instruct. Technology can be fun and engaging thus creating greater student interest in
learning. Technology can make material and content available to students that were unable to
access at a certain level before. The use of certain kinds of technology allow for mobility in
places such as field trips to museums and nature centers. Using technology to differentiate
learning allows teachers to begin to be smarter rather than working harder because it often
decreases the amount of time required by teachers to create differentiated content. (Flice,H,
Crowe, M.W, Stanford,P 2010 The cons are very little other than cost for certain programs and
problems associated with internet security and the occasional interruption to network availability.
There are some inequalities from district to district with a budget for technology.

Concluding Paragraph
This essay has given a few examples of technology that is used to differentiate
instruction. Those educators that work especially with students that have special needs truly
understand this thought process. There are many subjects whose content can be adapted to fit a
certain skill level. This will increase engaged learning thus developing better skills. .

References
eSchool News com Retrieved November 27 , 2015 from eSchool News.com website:
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/02/02/technology-empowers-differentiated
instruction/
Teaching monster.com Retrieved November 27, 2015 from Teaching monster.com website:
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiate-instruction
Stanford, P., Crowe, M.W., Flice, H. (2010) Differentiating with Technology TEACHING
Exceptional Children Plus,6(4) Article 2. Retrieved [date] from
http://escholarship.bc.edu/education/tecplus/vol6/iss2/art2