Universal Design for Learning Meeting the Needs of Learners

Goals Understand background & foundational concepts of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Getting started with UDL – Applications and Resources

Understand background & foundational concepts of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Getting started with UDL – Applications and Resources

Why We Do What We Do “ Students are not empty vessels to be filled, but flames to be lit” (Plato) Needs to be a shift in how we perceive our youth “ Something in here, that I want to put into the world…”

“ Students are not empty vessels to be filled, but flames to be lit” (Plato)

Needs to be a shift in how we perceive our youth

“ Something in here, that I want to put into the world…”

What is it in you that gives you joy, excites you… Most students know their “spark” Most say no one has asked them what their “spark” is Only 25% say there is a community around them that helps nourish their “spark”

Most students know their “spark”

Most say no one has asked them what their “spark” is

Only 25% say there is a community around them that helps nourish their “spark”

Five Essential Questions What is your spark? Who knows your spark? Who helps nourish your spark? What gets in your way? How can I help?

What is your spark?

Who knows your spark?

Who helps nourish your spark?

What gets in your way?

How can I help?

How Can We Help? Reaffirm why we do what we do… “ vessels” or “sparks”? Use all the resources available to “light those sparks” which includes: Personalized Learning Inquiry Universal Design for Learning Infusing Technology

Reaffirm why we do what we do…

“ vessels” or “sparks”?

Use all the resources available to “light those sparks” which includes:

Personalized Learning

Inquiry

Universal Design for Learning

Infusing Technology

Origins of Universal Design Originated in the field of architecture Design buildings with built-in accessibility for everyone was an approach superior to retrofitting buildings to accommodate diverse individual needs .

Originated in the field of architecture

Design buildings with built-in accessibility for everyone was an approach superior to retrofitting buildings to accommodate diverse individual needs .

Universal Design: We all benefit Not one size fits all – but alternatives. Designed from the beginning, not added on later. Increases access opportunities for everyone

Not one size fits all – but alternatives.

Designed from the beginning, not added on later.

Increases access opportunities for everyone

Universal Design Is All Around Us… Ramps Curb Cuts Electric Doors Captions on Television Easy Grip Tools Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Ramps

Curb Cuts

Electric Doors

Captions on Television

Easy Grip Tools

Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Center for Universal Design (NCU) – 7 Principles Equitable Use Flexibility in Use Simple & Intuitive Perceptible Information Tolerance for error Low physical effort Size and space for approach and use

Equitable Use

Flexibility in Use

Simple & Intuitive

Perceptible Information

Tolerance for error

Low physical effort

Size and space for approach and use

UDE Applications Universal Design in Education (UDE) Provides a philosophical framework for the design of a broad range of educational products & environments Unlike an accommodation for a specific person with a disability, the practice of UDE benefits all students Educational software Websites Meetings Instructions -Curriculum -Libraries -Computer labs -Registration options -Student housing & residences -Student services

Universal Design in Education (UDE)

Provides a philosophical framework for the design of a broad range of educational products & environments

Unlike an accommodation for a specific person with a disability, the practice of UDE benefits all students

Educational software

Websites

Meetings

Instructions

-Curriculum

-Libraries

-Computer labs

-Registration options

-Student housing & residences

-Student services

Universal Design – Principles for Instruction Class Climate Physical Access, Usability, and Safety Delivery Methods Information resources Interaction Feedback Assessment Accommodation

Class Climate

Physical Access, Usability, and Safety

Delivery Methods

Information resources

Interaction

Feedback

Assessment

Accommodation

Origins of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) CAST believes that “barriers to learning are not, in fact, inherent in the capacities of learners, but instead arise in learners' interactions with inflexible educational goals, materials, methods, and assessments.” Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age , p. vi (CAST, 2003) http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/learn.php

CAST believes that “barriers to learning are not, in fact, inherent in the capacities of learners, but instead arise in learners' interactions with inflexible educational goals, materials, methods, and assessments.”

Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age , p. vi (CAST, 2003)

http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/learn.php

Celebrating Diversity “ We must fundamentally alter our thinking about diversity as deviant, that…it must be accommodated. . . Rather, we need to be clear that diversity is an essential part of the human condition and needs to be anticipated and celebrated.” Dave Edyburn, Associate Professor, UWM Slide created by Kathy Howery

“ We must fundamentally alter our thinking about diversity as deviant, that…it must be accommodated. . .

Rather, we need to be clear that diversity is an essential part of the human condition and needs to be anticipated and celebrated.”

Dave Edyburn, Associate Professor, UWM

Slide created by Kathy Howery

UDL Originated From the Edges… Innovations emerge from the margins, not from the centre or mainstream of an industry…

Innovations emerge from the margins, not from the centre or mainstream of an industry…

Moving to Accessibility – A3 Model ADVOCACY (Barriers to learning exist) ACCOMMODATION (Assistive Technology for Learning) ACCESSIBILITY (Universal Design for Learning) APPROACH APPROACH CHANGES OVER TIME

Universal Design for Learning Definition: “ UDL is an educational approach to teaching, learning, and assessment, drawing on new brain research and new media technologies to respond to individual learner differences.” -CAST 2003

Definition:

“ UDL is an educational approach to teaching, learning, and assessment, drawing on new brain research and new media technologies to respond to individual learner differences.”

-CAST 2003

UDL - The Intersection of Initiatives “ UDL is the intersection where all our initiatives - integrated units, multi-sensory teaching, multiple intelligences, differentiated instruction, use of computers, performance based assessment, and others - come together” Donna Palley (Education in the Digital Age: Rose & Meyer)

“ UDL is the intersection where all our initiatives - integrated units, multi-sensory teaching, multiple intelligences, differentiated instruction, use of computers, performance based assessment, and others - come together”

Donna Palley (Education in the Digital Age: Rose & Meyer)

UDL and the Learning Brain Recognition network Strategic network Affective network

Recognition network

Strategic network

Affective network

UDL and the Learning Brain Recognition Networks : “ the what of learning” -identify and interpret patterns of sound, light, taste, smell, and touch

Recognition Networks :

“ the what of learning”

-identify and interpret patterns of sound, light, taste, smell, and touch

UDL and the Learning Brain Strategic networks: “ the how of learning” -plan, execute, and monitor actions and skills

Strategic networks:

“ the how of learning”

-plan, execute, and monitor actions and skills

UDL and the Learning Brain

UDL and the Learning Brain

Universal Design and the Learning Brain Strategies & Eye Movement Studies

Strategies & Eye Movement Studies

UDL and the Learning Brain Affective networks: “ the why of learning” -evaluate and set priorities

Affective networks:

“ the why of learning”

-evaluate and set priorities

UDL and the Learning Brain

Learning and Emotion

UDL and the Learning Brain One must recognize information, ideas, and concepts One must be able to apply strategies to process the information One must be engaged -Vygotsky

One must recognize information, ideas, and concepts

One must be able to apply strategies to process the information

One must be engaged

-Vygotsky

UDL and the Learning Brain All learners are unique and universal does not mean “ one size fits all”

All learners are unique and

universal does not mean

“ one size fits all”

What do we mean by Universal ? To many people the term seems to imply that UDL is a quest for a single, one size-fits-all , solution that will work for everyone.In fact, the very opposite is true. The essence of UDL is flexibility and the inclusion of alternatives to adapt to the myriad variations in learner needs, styles, and preferences. -Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

To many people the term seems to imply that UDL is a quest for a single, one size-fits-all , solution that will work for everyone.In fact, the very opposite is true.

The essence of UDL is flexibility and the inclusion of alternatives to adapt to the myriad variations in learner needs, styles, and preferences.

-Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Universal Design for Learning calls for: Multiple means of representation: : to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge, Multiple means of expression: to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know Multiple means of engagement: to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation.

Multiple means of representation: : to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge,

Multiple means of expression: to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know

Multiple means of engagement: to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation.

Multiple Means of Representation Video Sparks Notes Considerate Text (Mobipocket) Read/Write Gold “ Writing with Symbols” (ELL) Reduce cognitive barriers

Video

Sparks Notes

Considerate Text (Mobipocket)

Read/Write Gold

“ Writing with Symbols” (ELL)

Reduce cognitive barriers

Multiple Means of Expression Speech recognition software Alpha Smart iMovie or Movie Maker Inspiration Webspiration Pixwriter Blogging Voice Thread

Speech recognition software

Alpha Smart

iMovie or Movie Maker

Inspiration

Webspiration

Pixwriter

Blogging

Voice Thread

Multiple Means of Engagement 21 st Century Learners – Digital Natives Virtual classrooms Nurturing “Sparks” Teach today’s students with today’s tools

21 st Century Learners – Digital Natives

Virtual classrooms

Nurturing “Sparks”

Teach today’s students with today’s tools

Universal Design for Learning Provides a variety of choice for different learners. Has these options available before students enter the classroom. Teachers can plan in advance to meet students’ needs. -Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Provides a variety of choice for different learners.

Has these options available before students enter the classroom.

Teachers can plan in advance to meet students’ needs.

-Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Universal Design for Learning By frontloading “assistive” technologies into the classroom we can create a more accessible and flexible environment for all students. -Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

By frontloading “assistive” technologies into the classroom we can create a more accessible and flexible environment for all students.

-Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Digital Media is Flexible and Transformable Examples UDL Editions Strategy Tour Thinking Reader Book Builder Draft Builder http://www.cast.org “ Joe’s Non-Netbook” - Youtube

Examples

UDL Editions

Strategy Tour

Thinking Reader

Book Builder

Draft Builder

http://www.cast.org

“ Joe’s Non-Netbook” - Youtube

Planning for All Learners (PAL) Set Goals Classroom Profiles Identify Methods, Materials, Assessments & Barriers Apply UDL Teach UDL Lesson

Set Goals

Classroom Profiles

Identify Methods, Materials, Assessments & Barriers

Apply UDL

Teach UDL Lesson

UDL @ Samuel W. Shaw Grade 5 Weather Unit (podcasts/D2L) Grade 6 Sky Science (Alien Rescue) Grade 7 Heat & Temperature Unit

Grade 5 Weather Unit (podcasts/D2L)

Grade 6 Sky Science (Alien Rescue)

Grade 7 Heat & Temperature Unit

UDL AT WORK BLOGS are motivating and easy way to implement principles of personalized and UDL learning http://levipellett.edublogs.org http://jmundorf.edublogs.org

BLOGS are motivating and easy way to implement principles of personalized and UDL learning

http://levipellett.edublogs.org

http://jmundorf.edublogs.org

Digital Text Digital Repository of Digital Textbooks (Canada Copyright Law – Section 32) Authorized Novels & Plays in Digital Format Other Sources Project Gutenberg (free electronic books) Wikibooks UDL Editions by CAST Google Books Bookshare.com Alberta Education

Digital Repository of Digital Textbooks (Canada Copyright Law – Section 32)

Authorized Novels & Plays in Digital Format

Other Sources

Project Gutenberg (free electronic books)

Wikibooks

UDL Editions by CAST

Google Books

Bookshare.com

Alberta Education

UDL Resources - Technology http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/ http://www.techmatrix.org/ http://www.udlcenter.org/

http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/

http://www.techmatrix.org/

http://www.udlcenter.org/

UDL & 21st Century Learning Information is easy to get!

Information is easy to get!

UDL & 21st Century Learning What will be valued is people who can make “usable knowledge” with that information! -Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

What will be valued is people who can make “usable knowledge” with that information!

-Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Are We Ready ?