Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is becoming increasingly important in education for several reasons. First, expectations in education are changing from a system that separated students into educated elites and industrial workers to one that prepares all students for their future. Second, classrooms are now more diverse and inclusive, requiring teachers to meet a variety of student needs. Third, technology allows for more accessible, engaging learning experiences for all students when guided by UDL principles. Adopting UDL helps level the playing field for vulnerable students and ensures curriculum is not disabling or unethical.
Micro-Scholarship, What it is, How can it help me.pdf
UDL Presentation Slides
1. Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The difference between fair and equal
North Vancouver
January 6, 2009
Anita Strang
ThinkingUDL.ca
anitasquicktips.edublogs.org
2. Questioning
What is assumptions
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
3. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
4. Universal Design ~
Architecture
Designed for people with physical disabilities...
... beneficial for everyone
7. SOLO 6 Literacy Suite
http://www.donjohnston.com/products/solo/
8. NaturalReader
http://www.wordtalk.org.uk/Home/
I downloaded Natural Reader to help
students who have reading disabilities.
Many students and teachers have begun
using it to re-read what they have written
as they edit and proofread their work.
http://www.naturalreaders.com/free_version.htm
CLiCk, Speak
http://clickspeak.clcworld.net/
15. UDL planning requires
Collaborative Planning
With all teachers who support the students in the classroom
Resource Room Special Education Assistants
ESL
Special Education Teachers
Learning Assistance
16. Learning Intention:
Grade 2
identify the properties of solids, liquids, and gases
Solid Liquid Gas
water rock wood
air steam milk
17. Learning Intention:
Grade 2
identify the properties of solids, liquids, and gases
Adding picture clues to the activity meant it was more accessible for students with perceptual disabilities,
autism, etc.
18. UDL planning begins with clearly stated
Learning Intentions
Where are we going?
19. Shape of the Day Grade 1
To understand that there should be an equal amount on both
Math sides of an equals sign =
IRP - PLO
Recess demonstrate, concretely and pictorially, how a given number can be
represented by a variety of equal groups with and without singles
Reading
Writing
5+2 = 4+__
Lunch
By clearly stating learning outcomes within their Shape of
the Day teachers were more focused and supporting
Science teachers had more information about what was most
important about the lesson and the activity.
Art
20. UDL lesson planning begins with plans for ongoing
Assessment
That reflects the lesson's stated Learning Intentions
Assessment for Learning
Assessment as Learning
Assessment of Learning
How will we know we got there???
21. Assessment using the Provincial Learning Outcomes...
Early in the term - 2nd term - 3rd term -
By using a checklist to record student progress and mastery of individual learning outcomes
teachers are able to collect meaningful data about student progress in relation to the IRP fo
assessment and reporting purposes.
23. Students with Special Learning Needs
"A small proportion will need to work on
individualized outcomes, goals different than the
curriculum; this is referred to as modification."
"Although decisions about
"Some may be able to modifications to a student’s
achieve the learning courses or subjects may
outcomes of some
take place in grades earlier
subjects or courses with
adaptations." than Grade 10, a formal
decision that an overall
program is modified does
not need to occur until
Grade 10."
"Many students with special needs and
significant learning challenges will be able to
achieve the learning outcomes for subjects or
courses with no or minor adaptations."
BC Ministry of Education
A Guide to Adaptations and Modifications
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/docs/adaptations_and_modifications_guide.pdf
24. Adaptations can only be
made for students on IEPs
...it depends
"Essentially, adaptations are “best practice” in
teaching."
BC Ministry of Education
A Guide to Adaptations and Modifications
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/docs/adaptations_and_modifications_guide.pdf
ie:
·use of a graphic organizer
·providing with more time Time limits for assignments are not
stated in the IRPs. All students can be
provided with more time.
Graphic organizers
are good tool for all
students.
25. Teachers must ensure that they are aware of the learning outcome they are teaching as they
determine if they are making adaptations or modifications. Students can demonstrate mastery
of this learning outcome in many ways…
26. Animal Adaptations
Project
Notebook
Online information
Written Report
Kurzweil
Kurzweil
Discussion
PowerPoint
Poster
Presentation
Use of Multi-Media
27. Adaptations create an
unfair advantage for some
students.
"The difference between fair and
equal."
"Adaptations do not represent unfair advantages to students. In fact, the
opposite could be true. If appropriate adaptations are not used, students could
be unfairly penalized for having learning differences, creating serious negative
impacts to their achievement and self‐concept."
BC Ministry of Education
A Guide to Adaptations and Modifications
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/docs/adaptations_and_modifications_guide.pdf
28. Modifications and Inclusion
Pull-out Groups
When students need skills that other students
in their classroom don't need, short term pull-
out groups may be necessary for skill
development
Within the Classroom
setting
Students on a modified program can be included by
defining a different learning outcome for the student
within the same activity as all the other kids are doing.
29. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
30. Changing Expectations in Education
"The [school] system was designed in the 1840s and at
the turn of the 20th Century to separate society into a
vast majority of minimally trained industrial workers
and a small, educated elite."
Ira Socol
Counting the Origins of Failure
http://education.change.org/blog/view/counting_the_origins_of_failure
31. In the past we would plan our lessons based on the average student's
needs...
32. We often taught as though all students had the same
needs...
33. The reality is that all children are unique and teachers are now expected to meet the needs of diverse learners
within their classrooms. We cannot continue to teach in the same ways we did in the past and expect to meet the
diverse needs of our learners.
34. Here's to the crazy ones...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oAB83Z1ydE
35. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
36. It is not about the technology
It is about the learning.
suchitra prints
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/2740220523/
37. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
38. Toolbelt Theory
We are many things - human beings - but above all we are tool users. Unlike
most other species, and far more than any other species, we have defined
ourselves by crafting tools which allow us to control our environment and
overcome our limitations. Can't run as fast as a horse? Climb on the horse.
Can't fight one-on-one with a Mammoth? Invent the spear. Can't remember
everything you need? Create writing.
So tools matter. They matter most for those who lack the highest capabilities -
a very old person and a very young person needs a car more often than a 20-
year-old might - a short person needs a ladder more often than a tall person -
a weak swimmer needs a boat when a great swimmer might not - but still,
tools matter for everyone.
Ira Socol
Toolbelt Theory for Everyone
SpeEd Change
http://speedchange.blogspot.com
39. Toolbelt Theory
So the trick to tool use is to learn to evaluate tasks and environments and
your skills and the tools themselves as they change and determine what
works best for you. I call this the "TEST" - Task - Environment - Skills -
Tools
T Task
E Environment
S Skills
Ira Socol
T Tools
Toolbelt Theory for Everyone
SpeEd Change
http://speedchange.blogspot.com
40. Most technologies enable some while disabling others...
stairs
bicycles
wheelchairs
pencils
books
41. We have the technology...
...to make learning accessible for all students.
56. background Networkability
knowledge
video clip
extension
activities definitions
57. It is not about the technology
suchitra prints
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/2740220523/
58. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
59. Increasingly schools are making decisions about the technologies
they will be purchasing for use in their classrooms. It is important
that we are spending our limited funds on technologies that
improve the life chances for all of our students. For our most
vulnerable students carefully selected technology will "level the
playing field" between them and their classmates.
60. The time is right...
Technology Integration
The questions are no longer "why?" or "should we?"...
Universal Design for Learning
...the questions are "what?" and "how?"
It is now a question of pedagogy
increased visual
accessibility - leveling the playing field
engagement tools
61. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now?
Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
62. David Rose
CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology)
Founder and Chief Education Officer
Chief Scientist, Cognition & Learning
"Increasingly we need to be
seeing our curriculum as
disabling children."
"Increasingly our curriculum
will be seen as unethical"
http://events.insinc.com/setbc/20081024/presentation-index6.html
Watch David Rose’s entire presentation for the 2008 LATA (Learning Assistance Teachers’
Association) Conference held in Burnaby, BC:
http://events.insinc.com/setbc/20081024/
63. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
64. Student Support
Models
Classroom Support Program
Program
·teaching to the middle ·pull-out group support
·adding on for students with learning or ·support outside of the curriculum
The
physical needs ·limited collaboration with classroom
past
·reliance on Support Teacher to fix
students with special needs
·fostering an atmosphere of belonging in the classroom and the school
·flexible model of in-class or pull-out support based on careful consideration of individual
needs
·collaboration in planning lessons to build in supports
·familiarity with technology that supports students
The future ·helping students develop understandings of disabilities
·helping students develop empathy and learn to support fellow students
·ensuring students are able to ·in-class or in-curriculum support
participate in classroom activities ·collaboration with classroom
·differentiating instruction teachers
·troubleshooting technology
·coordinating support services
·paperwork
·tracking students
·strategic pull-out support
65.
66. Why are our kids succeeding???
Support for teachers...
~inservice
~collaboration
~technology
Support for kids...
~Short-term Pull-out groups with a purpose
~joint attention
~in class support
~accessibility
~visual & background knowledge
The message we are sending...
~their classroom teachers can teach them within their own
classroom alongside their peers
~they are capable learners
~there are tools they can use when they need them
~different is not only acceptable but encouraged
~they are valued and supported
~they belong
...a shift in Paradigm
67. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
68. BC's Ministry of Education endorses Universal Design
for Learning.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/speci
http://www.bced.gov.bc.c aled/docs/adaptations_and_mod
a/specialed/docs/iepssn. ifications_guide.pdf
pdf
"Today’s classrooms are diverse and inclusive by nature. Differentiation of instruction and assessment and
the
principles of universal design are now recognized practices for teachers."
78. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
83. What is
UDL? Changing Expectations in Education
Preparing kids for their future
UDL Why is it
important
now? Toolbelt Theory
Technology purchasing
UDL
Progress
Because it is the right thing to do
Worldwide
At Birchland
In BC
84. Shift in Paradigm...
from assistive to mainstream
from separate to included
from child as problematic
to curriculum as potentially problematic
from fixing the child
to fixing the curriculum
from accepting differences
to valuing and encouraging differences