UDL Universal Design for Learning: One Baby Step at a Time Fairview Community School April 27, 2009

What is Universal Design? Universal Design is an architectural term used for changes that improve access for people with all kinds of needs.

How can we design our curriculum so all students have a chance to access information, engage in their learning, and show what they know? Universal Design for Learning? Easy! Plan for those with special needs from the start!

Plan for students who may have challenges with: Vision Mobility Speaking

Plan for students who may have challenges with: Flexibility their Health Speaking

Plan for students who may have challenges with: Size Hearing Using Words Motor Skills

Plan for students who may have challenges with: Accessing print Writing clearly Making sense of numbers Being gifted and talented

Why UDL at Fairview? Inner-city school with diverse needs 20 % of the students have a designation Many students not yet at grade level Many cultures; many ways of knowing Teachers ALREADY used UDL without the access to technology Teachers knew their community and their curriculum!

Access to technology in …

Access to technology now in 2009?

Use of technology in ?

Use of technology now in 2009?

Multiple Means of Representation How do we access what we want to OR need to learn?

How has technology helped your learning? Students most appreciated the access to support programs and to research areas.

Multiple Means of Engagement How do we engage with what we are learning? How do we make sense of it all?

Multiple Means of Expression How do we show others what we know? How do we express our understanding?

Students most appreciated the technology support for their spelling, editing, and typing (clarity and professional look to their work). “It helps me fix my backwards letters.” (Grade 2 student)

Welcome to Fairview’s UDL Day! Our exploration with UDL would not have happened without a lot of support from others. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to: Student Support Services staff Bob Esliger, Jan Thorsen, Jane Carroll! Information Technology staff Steve Sproston, Joel Canfield, Wayne Cooper, and Ryan Loughlin! SET-BC and Mallory Burton!