UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING~UDL~and Wood-Ridge High School

By: Colleen Meyerhttp://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5724416&height=267&width=200

 

Working Together To Ensure All Our Students' Needs are Met!

What are the Origins of UDL?

UDL is an extension of the architectural movement known as universal design. The universal design movement created structures that accommodated the needs of ALL users, including those with disabilities. Examples include self-opening doors, wide doorways, ramp access, and curb cuts.

 

CURB CUTS~a prime example of universal design.....

Curb cuts, originally designed for people in wheelchairs to navigate curbs also eases travel for people pushing strollers, skateboarders, pedestrians with canes, or even the average walker.  

What is UDL?

Universal design benefits the diverse needs of special populations which increases usability for everyone; the UDL plans curriculum with the needs of ALL learners in mind. (Rose and Meyer, 2002)

 

What is UDL?

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING-a universally designed curriculum is a curriculum that has been specifically designed, developed, and validated to meet the needs of the full range of students who are actually in our schools, students with a wide range of sensory, motor, cognitive, linguistic, and affective abilities and disabilities rather than a narrow range of students in the “middle” of the population (Hitchcock and Stahl, 2003).   ? Is this what we always have in mind as we rewrite the curriculum and create our lessons??

 

? Is this what we always have in mind as we rewrite the curriculum and create our lessons?

Universal Design for Learning extends universal design in two key ways:______________________________________

1. It applies the idea of built-in flexibility to the educational curriculum. 2. It is supporting not only improved access to information within classrooms, but also improved access to learning.( Rose and Meyer, 2002)

1. Provide Multiple Means of Representation - The "WHAT" of learning2. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression - The "HOW" of learning3. Provide Multiple Means of Engagement - The "WHY" of learning

*This link displays a graphic representation of the UDL Principles and the checkpoints of each:http://www.udlcenter.org/sites/udlcenter.org/files/updateguidelines2_0.pdf

THE 3 KEY PRINCIPLES OF UDL

The 3 UDL Principles are based on the 3 Brain Networks (3 systems for learning): 

  

THE 3 BRAIN NETWORKS EQUAL ~DIVERSE LEARNERS~

Brain research tells us about individual learning differences- three systems for learning. It is important to understand the 3 brain networks to understand how students process their information.

  

Recognition NetworkS-Learners gather facts and categorize what they see, hear, and read differently.

Strategic Networks-Learners plan and perform tasks differently. They organize and express ideas in their own unique ways.

Affective networksLearners get engaged and stay motivated in different ways. How they are challenged, excited, or interested depends on the individual.

http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl

It is important to give students various ways to acquire knowledge.Some essential methods include:● Provide multiple examples

● Highlight important information

 ● Present content utilizing

multiple media and formats ● Build or activate background

knowledge ●  

 

Instructional Methods for Principle One: Multiple means of Representation~Recognition networks

● Offer print and digital graphic organizers

 ● Provide relevant web

resources with multiple formats for information (archival magazine, primary source photos, speeches, etc.)

  http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/udl/udl_06.html

Instructional Methods for Principle 2: Multiple Means of Action and Engagement ~Strategic Networks ....(click on the link below)

GUESS WHAT I FOUND AFTER CREATING THE GLOGSTER ON THIS PAGE....... "Glogster EDU’s platform fulfills the UDL Principles of: Multiple Means of Representation, in order to give diverse learners options for acquiring information and knowledge; Multiple Means of Action and Expression, to provide learners options for demonstrating what they know; and Multiple Means of Engagement, to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation" (Glogster EC, Inc., 2012).

  http://cmeyer101.edu.glogster.com/instructional-methods-meyer/ 

Instructional Methods for Principle 3: Multiple Means of Engagement~Affective Networks

● Offer choices of content and tools

 

● Provide adjustable levels of challenge

 ● Allow students to choose from a

variety of reinforcers ● Allow options for the learning

environment or context ● Utilize flexible grouping

http://fkompar.edu.glogster.com/glog-1187/

http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/udl/udl_06.html

What are the immediate thoughts, words, ideas, reminders, etc... that pop into your head as you look at this image?

http://www.transcribeyourclass.ca/hts.html

Central Role of Technology in UDL"Technology, in particular digital media, makes UDL implementation practical and achievable in a diverse classroom. Digital materials make it possible for the same material to be flexibly presented and accessed – even adapted on a student-to-student basis" Reflection: What do you use in your classroom?

● Web-based timelines, graphic organizers, and mind maps?

● publish writing online and create online portfolios, books, newsletters, etc...

● engage in online discussions with peers and teachers as well as people from all over the world

● record and edit audio

● use interactive whiteboard

● create rubrics, tests, quizzes, surveys, maps, and games online

● organize, edit, and bookmark research online

   

 

http://edtechteacher.org/index.php/teachingtechnology/86-great-tech-tools

Role of Technology and Brain Research

Technology.....who would have thought a few years ago technology would play such an essential role on our students' lives. Remember, there is no such thing as a "normal" learner. Therefore, through the integration of technology, multiple ways of presenting the same content can be done effectively By supporting the different recognition, strategic, and affective networks of different learners, students are provided with access to information and access to learning.http://www.financebehavior.co.uk/news/barter-system-history-past-present-and-future/10/09/2010/

 

Impact UDL and Technology Has on Student Learning at Wood-Ridge High School Right Now....

● Devil's Advocate (Online School newspaper)● Blue Devil's Nation TV Channel http://youtu.be/XN3bO7BZERA

● MAP Testing (Aligned with the CCCS)● Google Docs● Turnitin.com● Web 2.0 Toolbox● TV Production and Communication● Web Design● Acellus● District/Teacher Websites/Powerschool● Interactive Whiteboards......  

Reflection: What else do we offer our students? What impact has UDL and Technology had in your classroom?

        UDL supports Cultural, Ethnic, Linguistic, and Academic Diversity 

Do you....● use classroom media such as

digital text, sound, images, and the Web?

● give options for gaining information, for expression, and for content selection, tailoring the learning experience to each student?

*A UDL curriculum takes on the burden of adaptation so that the student doesn't have to, minimizing barriers and maximizing access to both information and learning.

  To customize learning, teachers need to create and implement lessons with flexible goals, tools, teaching methods, and assessments.

Multimedia Sample: Xtranormalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYFrCXATXLI&feature=player_embedded

This Utube video clip is an excellent example of implementing multimedia tools into the curriculum. Students can create their own stories by typing in their stories or recording their dialogue, choosing appropriate characters for the project, and selecting appropriate background. Teachers can enhance their lessons and students can create their own movies, meeting students' diverse learning needs. Here is the link to xtranormal: http://www.xtranormal.com/

CAST ONLINE TOOLS AND RESOURCES

● UDL Editions by CAST (Classic texts provided online giving individualized supports to build reading strategies.)

http://udleditions.cast.org/index.html

● CAST Strategy Tutor(A free tool supporting students and teachers doing reading and research on the internet). http://cst.cast.org/cst/auth-login

● CAST TeachingEvery Student(Tutorials, tools, templates, and activities are provided to help put UDL into practice.http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/tools/

We, the teachers of Wood-Ridge High School, could use each of these tools and resources to enhance our efforts to meet the diverse learning needs of our students, as well as our academic goals.

 

~"UDL is truly a strategy "for all seasons and reasons"~(Seibert, 2007).

References CAST, Inc. (2002–2011). Teaching every student: Tools and activities. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/tools/

CAST, Inc. (2012). About UDL: Learn the basics. Retrieved from http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl EdTechTeacher Inc., (2012). Technology Tools for teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://edtechteacher.org/index.php/teaching-technology/86-great-tech-tools Hitchcock, C & Stahl, S (2003). "Assistive technology, universal design, universal design for learning: Improved learning opportunities." Journal of Special Education Technology (18) 4: 45-52. Rose, D. & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/ Seibert, C. (2007). Learning is universal. Lessons for all reasons and seasons. Don Johnston Inc., Retrieved from www.donjohnston.com/research/articles/PDF_docs_for_articles/ The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (n.d.). Star legacy modules.Retrieved on March 16, 2012 fromhttp://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/udl/udl_06.html