Culturally Responsive Technology

CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TECHNOLOGY

Neng Cha College of Education, Grand Canyon University EDU-524: Culturally Responsive Curriculum and Instruction Stacy Beharry September 25, 2018

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Table of Content

Culturally Responsive Instructional Strategies

Professional Practices for Implementing technologies that support student learning

Adaptation and Cultural Responsiveness to Curriculum

Colleague Recommendations

Technologies that support culturally responsive learning

References

Culturally Responsive Instructional Strategies

Activate students' prior knowledge

Make learning contextual

• Relate the specific concepts to real-world event.
• Consider using project-based learning
• Consider students diverse background.

• Ask questions
• Use visual tools
• Incorporate multimedia

• Use realia

Presenter's Notes

Adaptation and Cultural Responsiveness to Curriculum

Incorporate Popular Culture

Dynamic Instruction

Wide Range of Curricular Content

Include pop cultures that will engage and connect students to the curriculum.

• Music
• Movies
• Fashion
• Sports
• Videogames

Teaching should be dynamic and diverse because students learn in various ways (Howard, 2020).

• Whole group instruction
• Small group activities
• Paired activities

Curriculum content should include resources that help students learn about other cultures (Howard, 2020).

• Textbooks
• "Mirros & Windows"

Presenter's Notes

Technologies that support culturally responsive learning

i-Ready is an online supplemental program that support students in building reading and math skills.i-Ready components are:

1. Diagostic test
2. Personalized online instruction

Some resourcess includes:

1. Spanish lessons
2. Tools for instruction
3. Tools for scaffolding
4. Instructional grouping

Nearpod is an online interactive presentation platform that engages students in real-time or at students' pace (The Ohio State University, n.d.). Features of Nearpod:

1. Create your own presentation
2. Search and use exising presentation
3. Interactive lessons
4. Live and student paced mode
5. Assessmento tools

Presenter's Notes

Professional Practices for Implementing technologies that support student learning

Communicate your objectives

Classroom Culture

• Create a classroom that support technology.

• Be confident in using your technology.

• Be enthusiastic

• What are we learning?
• Why are we learning it?

• How are we going to learn it?

Presenter's Notes

Colleague Recommendations

Tap into students' cultural capital

Form Relationship

Believe in your students

Community involvement

Use real-world examples

• Build rapport with students
• Learn about students
• Let students learn about the teacher.

• Discuss current issues
• Teach students how to stay informed

• Allow students to share skills
• Provide many ways to respond
• Allow for different use of language

• Set expectations
• Have a positive attitude

• Invovle stakeholders
• Share stories
• Create a cultural bridge.

Presenter's Notes

References:

Catucci, C. (n.d.). Best practices when using technology in class. Education First. https://teacherblog.ef.com/best-practices-using-technology-class/ Howard, T.C. (2020). 7 culturally responsive teaching strategies and instructional practices. HMH. https://www.hmhco.com/blog/culturally-responsive-teaching-strategies-instruction-practices#:~:text=Community%20involvement.%20Parents%2C%20caregivers%2C%20grandparents%2C%20and%20community,CHECKLIST:%20The%20Elements%20of%20Culturally%20Responsive%20Teaching. The Ohio State University. (n.d.). Nearpod. Teaching & learning resource center. https://teaching.resources.osu.edu/toolsets/carmencanvas/guides/carmencanvas-integrations/nearpod#:~:text=Nearpod%20is%20a%20classroom%20presentation,or%20from%20a%20desktop%20computer.

Believe in Your Students: The first step is to believe that students can be successful. When students know that their teacher believes in them, they are motivated to engage in learning. Set realistic expectations for all students and, most importantly, maintain a positive attitude toward them (Howard, 2020). Community Involvement: Involve diverse stakeholders from the community, such as parents, grandparents, and caregivers, to share their stories (Howard, 2020). Engaging diverse community members can help bridge the cultural gap in both the community and the school environment. Form Relationships: Building relationships fosters trust between students and the teacher. Some ways to build rapport with students include learning about their interests, dislikes, home lives, and goals (Howard, 2020). Relationships goes both ways; in other words, teachers should also be open and allow students to learn about them. Use Real-World Examples: Using realistic and relevant examples creates a personal connection between the examples and the subject matter. For instance, discussing topics like immigration or environmental concerns teaches students to be informed and engage in respectful conversations (Howard, 2020). Tap into Students' Cultural Capital: Provide opportunities for students to use skills and knowledge from their own cultures in the classroom (Howard, 2020). This opens the door for students to share and respond in diverse ways and demonstrates their understanding.

There are several technologies that support culturally responsive learning such as i-Ready and Nearpod. i-Ready: i-Ready is a supplemental online learning platform designed to help students improve their reading and math skills. It begins with a diagnostic test that establishes each student’s baseline. This adaptive assessment adjusts in difficulty based on students’ responses, providing a tailored experience. Based on the diagnostic data, i-Ready delivers personalized lessons that align with individual student scores, allowing them to learn at their own pace. Additionally, teachers can customize lessons for specific students. i-Ready also provides instructional tools and resources for scaffolding and grouping. Educators can use the tools and resources to facilitate and differentiated instruction. Nearpod: Nearpod is an interactive presentation platform that enables educators to create or utilize existing lessons to engage students. Teachers can incorporate various interactive elements, such as polls, quizzes, drawing activities, and videos, fostering collaboration and participation (The Ohio State University, n.d.). Students can access Nearpod through computers, tablets, or iPads using a simple five-letter code, eliminating the need for individual accounts. This accessibility enhances student engagement and allows for a more inclusive learning environment.

Culturally responsive teaching goes beyond just curriculum and instructional methods; it encompasses a deep understanding of students' diverse cultures, beliefs, and traditions (Howard, 2020). This approach is inclusive, validating students for who they are and fostering a safe, welcoming environment. To effectively implement culturally responsive teaching, educators can utilize various strategies, particularly activating students' prior knowledge and making learning contextual. Activating Prior Knowledge: This strategy can begin with simple questions that prompt students to share what they think they know about a topic (Howard, 2020). This can include their past experiences, readings, and observations. Visual aids such as photographs, multimedia resources like videos, and realia such as artifacts can also be effective in helping students connect with the material. Making Learning Contextual: This involves connecting lessons to students' real-life experiences and backgrounds (Howard, 2020). When students see relevance in what they’re learning, their engagement increases. Incorporating current events, considering students’ beliefs and traditions, and integrating project-based learning that resonates with students’ lives are all effective methods to create this relevance.

Two practices for implementing technologies that support student learning are communicating your objectives and creating a classroom culture that supports technology use. Communicate Your Objectives: When introducing or implementing technology to support students' learning, it is imperative that the objectives are clearly communicated. Students are curious beings who need to know what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how they will do it. When students understand the what, why, and how, they feel more motivated and goal-oriented (Catucci, n.d.). Classroom Culture: Another important practice is to cultivate a positive classroom culture that supports technology use. This means ensuring there is a reliable internet connection, as well as desks and tables that allow for comfortable use of the technology. It is also essential for the teacher to be confident in using the chosen technology (Catucci, n.d.). Students rely on their teacher for support and guidance, so the teacher needs to be knowledgeable about the technology. Lastly, teachers need to be enthusiastic. If the teacher is excited and finds the technology enjoyable, students will be more likely to engage as well (Catucci, n.d.).

When the curriculum lacks cultural inclusivity, students often feel disconnected and disengaged, unable to relate the content to their own lives and communities (Howard, 2020). To counteract this, educators need to make thoughtful adjustments to their curriculum, in subjects like English Language Arts. Dynamic Instruction: Students learn in diverse ways, so it’s crucial to employ dynamic and various instructional methods. This can include whole-class discussions, paired activities, and small group instruction (Howard, 2020). Such diverse methods allow for practices like think-pair-share, giving students multiple avenues to engage in discourse, and materials that demonstrate their understanding (Howard, 2020). A Wide Range of Curricular Content: Providing resources that reflect a variety of cultures is essential. Incorporating textbooks and materials from different cultures and languages enriches students’ understanding of the world and helps them see themselves in the curriculum. This approach offers "mirrors and windows," where students can recognize their own identities and also gain insight into the experiences of others (Howard, 2020). Popular Culture: Integrating elements of popular culture such as sports, fashion, music, and movies into the curriculum can enhance student interest and engagement. By connecting academic content to their interests, educators can make learning more relatable and enjoyable (Howard, 2020).