Charlton C. Eugenio

EDU - 551

Differentiated Instruction

Assessing Technology-Based Resources for Differentiation

3.26.2025

In today’s diverse classrooms, integrating technology is crucial for addressing individual student needs and preparing them for 21st-century learning. The right digital tools empower educators to differentiate instruction based on student readiness, interests, and learning styles while fostering engagement and ownership of learning. This blog post explores current technologies that support differentiated instruction, evaluating their ease of use, practicality, cost, and cross-curricular applications—many of which I personally use in my own classroom. Additionally, it highlights instructional strategies that leverage these technologies to enhance student learning experiences. By embracing these innovations, teachers can cultivate more inclusive, effective, and engaging learning environments.

Mangahigh

Mangahigh is a game-based learning platform that makes math fun, interactive, and adaptive. It offers AI-driven activities, real-time feedback, and differentiated instruction to support students at various skill levels.

The platform has both free and subscription options. The free version provides limited access to math games and quizzes, while the paid version unlocks the full library, adaptive features, and teacher analytics. Schools can customize pricing based on their needs.

As a math teacher, I use Mangahigh to differentiate instruction:

Readiness – Assigning tasks that adapt to student skill levels.
Interest – Offering game-based challenges in algebra, geometry, or probability.
Learning Style – Engaging students through visual, interactive, and problem-solving activities.

Mangahigh’s real-time tracking, personalized learning, and engaging format make it a valuable tool for making math accessible and enjoyable for all students.

Kahoot

Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that makes quizzes, surveys, and discussions fun and interactive. Its competitive format boosts engagement, encourages participation, and provides instant feedback to help students learn.

Kahoot offers both free and paid plans. The free version lets teachers create multiple-choice quizzes, host live games, and assign challenges, while the paid plans unlock features like polls, puzzles, and detailed analytics. Schools can also integrate Kahoot with platforms like Google Classroom for seamless instruction.

As a math teacher, I use Kahoot to differentiate instruction:

Readiness – Creating quizzes at different difficulty levels.
Interest – Designing Kahoots with real-world math applications.
Learning Style – Engaging students through visuals, music, and interactive competition.

I also use Kahoot for pre-tests, exit tickets, and targeted practice, ensuring all students get the support they need. Whether for review, assessment, or just making math more fun, Kahoot keeps my students motivated and learning.

Mathia by Carnegie Learning

Mathia, developed by Carnegie Learning, is an AI-driven adaptive platform that personalizes math instruction for middle and high school students. It continuously assesses progress, provides real-time support, and adapts to individual needs, making it a great tool for differentiated instruction.

For teachers, Mathia offers detailed analytics, helping track student progress and tailor instruction. Though it requires a subscription, many schools invest in it for its effectiveness. The platform’s user-friendly design supports various learning styles with interactive problem-solving and scaffolded feedback.

I use Mathia to differentiate instruction by assigning adaptive tasks that meet students at their level. It provides targeted skill-building, real-world applications, and multiple learning pathways, making math more engaging and personalized. With its real-time feedback and data insights, Mathia helps foster confidence and mastery in my students.

Peardeck (formerly Edulastic)

Edulastic is an online assessment platform that lets teachers create, assign, and analyze assessments with real-time feedback. It offers a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and open-ended responses, and allows for easy differentiation by assigning different versions of tests based on students' skill levels. It integrates with Google Classroom and other LMS platforms, making it easy to use.

One of the things I love about Edulastic is how it helps me track student progress and adjust lessons to meet individual needs. For instance, during assessments, I open the platform on my interactive panel, so students can see their results in real-time. Their answers are color-coded—green for correct, red for incorrect, yellow for partially correct, and black for skipped questions. This gives them an opportunity to review and make adjustments right away.

By using Edulastic, I can offer personalized learning experiences that engage students at different levels. Whether they need extra support or more challenging questions, Edulastic helps keep every student on track. It’s a great tool for empowering students to take ownership of their learning and progress.

Book Creator

Book Creator is a versatile tool that enables students to create multimedia-rich books to demonstrate their understanding of concepts across subjects like math, history, and science. Students can incorporate text, images, audio, and video, allowing them to present their ideas creatively and interactively. It’s user-friendly, with both a free version and paid subscriptions that offer features like unlimited books and collaborative options.

As a math teacher, I’ve used Book Creator to differentiate instruction, a strategy I learned during a professional development session in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Inspired by the session, I quickly implemented it when teaching quadratic equations. I assign tasks tailored to students' readiness levels. Struggling students create step-by-step guides, adding text explanations, visuals to illustrate the process, and audio recordings to explain the steps aloud. This multi-sensory approach helps them internalize the concepts.

For advanced students, I assign more complex tasks like applying quadratic equations to real-world scenarios or creating mathematical models. They can enhance their projects with interactive videos, graphs, and animations, which deepen their understanding and engagement.

For visual or kinesthetic learners, I have students use Book Creator’s drawing tools to create diagrams of quadratic equations and their graphs. They then record their voices to explain how transformations like shifts, stretches, and reflections affect the graph. This approach helps students connect algebraic and graphical representations while reinforcing their understanding.

Additionally, students can create comic strips that explain their work, adding a fun and creative twist to the learning process. With real-time feedback, I can monitor their progress, offer guidance, and adapt my teaching to meet their needs. Book Creator empowers students to take ownership of their learning, making math concepts more engaging and accessible.

Incorporating technology into the classroom is a powerful way to differentiate instruction and cater to the diverse needs of students. By utilizing tools that enhance engagement, support various learning styles, and foster student ownership of learning, educators can create more dynamic and inclusive learning environments. The technologies discussed in this post not only promote effective differentiation but also empower students to take an active role in their educational journey, ensuring they are well-prepared for success in the 21st century.

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