Differentiate with Learning Menus Using Google Docs! I love learning menus, and it is one of my favorite ways to incorporate choice and differentiate learning.
What are Learning Menus?
Learning menus or choice boards are a form of differentiated learning that give students a menu or choice of learning activities.
One easy way to dip your toes into the learning menu water is a Tic-Tac-Toe menu. A Tic-Tac-Toe can be used for anything from short activities, to bigger, unit projects. Below is an example of an iPad Tic-Tac-Toe menu that I created for teacher who are learning to integrate iPads in the classroom. It was created in Google Docs, and then "Published to the Web," which is an amazing and under-utilized feature of Google Docs!
I typically have very mixed groups in my training sessions (multiple grade levels, subject ares, and tech savviness). I usually address concepts, ideas and apps that are applicable across all grade levels and subject areas. Then I move into an activity like the iPad Tic-Tac-Toe learning menu to allow teachers to dig deeper into their own subject areas and grade levels, AND move at a pace that is comfortable for their level and learning style.
The Tic-Tac-Toe model is very low-prep, and can easily be adapted for short activities, or used in longer unit projects. The middle space can be used in one of three ways: (1) create a free space with no activity assigned, (2) allow students to propose their own learning activity or project, or (3) it can be the one required activity (which is how it was used in the example above).
Design the other squares to insure that all of your skills and content are covered no matter which direction they go, but get creative and give them flexible learning paths to reach the same learning outcomes!
Make it Interactive and Paperless with Google Docs.
Learn how to Turn Your Google Doc into a Web Page here.
Of course making it interactive is sooooo easy! Just add links! These links could be to other Google Docs with further directions and links, web quests (does anyone still do these?), interactive games and websites, you could even link to an app and use these on your tablets. The limits are endless!
Also see my previous post on learning menus and differentiation:
- Giving Teachers Ownership of Their Learning.
- Shut the Front Door! Digital Differentiation with Google Forms
More differentiation strategies with Google Apps coming to #FETC and #TCEA15! Look for my presentations to be shared on this site.