Matt Miller - DONT Ditch That Tech: Differentiated Instruction in a Digital World

Dont Ditch That Tech is a rich resource for understanding ways technology can be a thoughtful tool for reaching the complex range of learners in todays classrooms. It is grounded, smart, clever, conversational and practical. The book models differentiation for its readers while it commends differentiation for students. It is likely to become a handbook to which teachers return often rather than a one-and-done read.

Carol Ann Tomlinson, author, The Differentiated Classroom

Teachers are driven to create personalized experiences for each child, amidst classrooms composed of unique students. That can feel overwhelming. This guide is chock full of tools, apps, graphic images, classroom examples, methods, and practical tips for any classroom educator looking to try new things or further strengthen their current differentiation practices. And its differentiated for teachers, too!

The HyperDoc Girls (Sarah Landis, Kelly Hilton, and Lisa Highfill)

Matt Miller has done it again! He and Nate and Angelia Ridgway have laid out an easy and successful way to utilize technology in the classroom that puts the emphasis on teaching and learningand not the device. This is a must have for any teacher or school district trying to implement technology to purposefully impact student learning and growth. This book is full of great examples and ideas and is sure to become the go-to help manual for many teachers. Do yourself a favor and buy this book! You wont be sorry! Warning: Be prepared to see smiling faces on students and engaged classrooms when you do!

Holly Clark, author, The Google Infused Classroom

Who knew that Ditch That Textbook was the beginning of a trilogy? First: Ditch The Textbook. Then, Ditch The Homework. Finally, Dont Ditch The Tech. These books have a nice, easy flow that allows educators to easily migrate their pedagogy across the full spectrum of change required to be their best in a modern classroom. This book is the keystone!

Matt Miller and crew have shared a clear, research-based and meticulous yet fun way for educators to embrace edtech at the highest level. Anecdotes, exemplars and examples abound in this easy to read how-to for any teacher!

Jon Corippo, Chief Learning Officer, Cue, Inc.

Interested in marrying your strong teaching practice with transformative tech implementation? Then this book is for you! Written by teachers for teachers, Dont Ditch The Tech is brimming with practical advice and guidance to help you take meaningful steps to empower your learners and impact your teaching.

Trevor MacKenzie, coauthor, Inquiry Mindset, and author, Dive into Inquiry

Dont Ditch That Tech is full of actionable ideas and resources for educators who want to make the most of classroom technology. With an emphasis on authentic experiences, the authors passion for digital learning and their practical tips will help every reader reflect and plan strategically this school year!

Monica Burns, EdD, author, Tasks Before Apps

To all the educators who think, There has to

be a better way, and do something about it.

Matt Miller

To Booker, and to all those who will teach him.

Nate Ridgway

to all my students, including my own family!

Angie Ridgway

Before beginning your journey into the intersection of technology and differentiation, make sure you have studied both COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines for use with K12 students and their alignment with your particular school districts policies. The U.S. Department of Education provides suggested language at studentprivacy.ed.gov or check the national guidelines for your home country.

As authors and teachers, we come to the new technological world at very different points in our career. Angie, with the most years in education, started teaching when access to computers was at best limited to home use and the most privileged schools. She acquired tech savviness as a new language which she integrated slowly into her teaching practice. Matt, who is younger, began to integrate instructional technology a few years into his teaching career. Nate, on the other hand, had a not-so-smartphone in hand as a middle schooler and innately integrated technology into the classroomand every other area of life. As you will see, weve each interacted with technology in different ways throughout our careers in education.

As the most ancient of this trio, my journey has taken me not only the longest but also the furthest in terms of learning instructional technology. I attribute any natural leanings to my mother, who at almost eighty years young (shhh!), grabs every new smartphone and app and uses them like a pro!

I began teaching when teachers would leave the lounge covered in purple mimeo ink. (The great photocopiers were close behind, though.) During student teaching, I lived with a family that had an actual home computer, and I dreamt of the possibilities of using this asset as a Spanish teacher. Fast forward to now, where I have the privilege of preparing future teachers for their careers. I work with the purpose of connecting research and theories to practice. My aim is to prepare my students for the current state of classroomand for the exciting future that teaching holds. Bring out the crystal ball!

Quite a few theories, authors, and frameworks inform my practice, including Carol Ann Tomlinson (caroltomlinson.com) and Universal Design for Learning (cast.org). Thomas Armstrong and Howard Gardners research also factor into my thinking and approaches to teacher education (institute4learning.com). You will see references to their tremendous work throughout this book.