UDL: Universal Design for Learning UDL is a term for making curriculum all-encompassing and far-reaching, ensuring that all students can access learning. Students are not the same. Rather, they are individuals with differing abilities, strengths, experiences, backgrounds, needs, and learning styles.

FYI What UDL is not…. It is NOT a one size fits all type of learning. It is NOT teaching to just one level of learning. It is NOT about taking shortcuts.

provides opportunities Students do not come with a warning label. If they did, it may read something like this: WARNING: Students come from different backgrounds: They have different cultures, ethnicities, experiences, family dynamics, linguistic capabilities, disabilities, learning styles, and academic needs. Handle with care and use all available resources to engage, motivate, and educate students. Vary techniques and teaching styles. UDL provides opportunities for ALL learners

What is UDL? Universal Design for Learning Think of it as a blueprint for teaching students from all walks of life Teaching that reaches out to all types of learners (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) Teaching that addresses all student needs Teaching that makes learning meaningful Teaching that makes sense

UDL Made Easy Next time you head out to a public park or even a mall, look around you. What types of things do you see that help all people enjoy where you are?

Think…..adaptations! Signs in various languages and colors Signs with universally understood pictures Attractions that offer voice options Braille signs to guide the sight impaired Wheelchair ramps to ease movement

Opportunities for all to enjoy… Just as our communities try to open all activities to those who experience things differently, isn’t it time to ensure all students learn by providing different opportunities to make connections to new knowledge?

UDL supports cultural, ethnic, linguistic and academic diversity Embracing differences and incorporating them into the curriculum make a big difference in how students accept and make connections to the instruction. Including all students and addressing all needs makes learning meaningful, and students are more receptive to new concepts and experiences. Individual needs and strengths must be taken into account.

Multiple means of presentation Multiple means of expression 3 principles of UDL Art Music Speech Computers Multiple means of engagement Multiple means of presentation Art, Music, Speech, Computers Multimedia Art, Music, Speech, Computers Multiple means of expression Finding new ways to motivate students, present information, and allowing students to share new knowledge back in a variety of ways, supports the 3 principles UDL.

Multiple Means of Presentation For Visual Learners Fine Art Written words Movies Pictures Graphs Charts Colors Fonts For Auditory Learners Music Sound bites Movies Podcasts Lectures For Kinesthetic Learners Manipulatives Puzzles Models Experiments Field Research Internet Searches Students are not all the same; they learn differently. To reach all learners, different means of presentation are necessary. For best practices, teachers should incorporate as many different means as they can.

Multiple Means of Engagement Try Adding Experiments Art Projects Research Podcasts Blogs Team work Wikis Internet Printed media Animations Music Movies Sound Lectures… Reading… Writing… Oral Reports… These traditional means of engaging students take a new life as you add technology, music, art, and more. Try Adding

Multiple Means of Expression Students need to be able to share what they have learned in a creative manner that highlights their strengths. In support of Howard Gardner’s theory on multiple intelligences, ALL students can learn if they are given the opportunity to tap into their strengths.

The CENTRAL ROLE of Technology Technology and UDL Technology supports UDL in so many ways. Here are just a few: Voice activated computers for the visually impaired Provide portable classrooms Collapse traditional classroom walls by using the Internet to reach out to others globally Streaming video or downloading music and pictures to enhance concepts Provide information instantly Provide drill and skill remediation Gives students ownership over their learning The CENTRAL ROLE of Technology Technology supports learning in many ways, but its CENTRAL ROLE is to encourage flexibility and support differences in learners by allowing educators to adjust and customize learning opportunities.

Why UDL? Remember that students are different? Well they all have different needs, strengths, and motivations to learn. The brain is made up of networks. Networks that come into play as we learn new information. There are 3 types of networks in particular that students access as they acquire information. affective networks recognition networks strategic networks

How do these networks affect learning?

Recognition Networks We take in information and identify symbols, words, and information. Then we try to sort through everything we just heard, saw, and read. Sometimes letters, numbers, and even words can be confusing. We need to find alternative ways to see, hear, and read.

Recognition Networks Give students options in how they acquire knowledge. Present information in a variety of ways. Make text become what each reader needs. Add sound to catch a student’s attention.

Strategic Networks Think strategy What are strategic tasks? Planning, implementing, and performing tasks Organizing our ideas Sharing our ideas What are strategic tasks? Writing a speech, research paper, or essay Working out math problems Creating art, music, or presentations

Affective Networks Think EMOTION What appeals to learners? What motivates them? What makes learning relevant? What will provide satisfaction? What will stimulate learning? How can affective networks be accommodated? Provide different challenges Provide different options for mastering skills Allow student creativity to propose goals and objectives Make appropriate for age, racial, cultural, and gender differences Allow students to help, mentor, or teach back material Allow students to choose the way they learn and present

Information About CAST The following information has been taken from the CAST website. CAST is a nonprofit research and development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals, especially those with disabilities, through Universal Design for Learning. Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST has earned international recognition for its innovative contributions to educational products, classroom practices, and policies. Its staff includes specialists in education research and policy, neuropsychology, clinical/school psychology, technology, engineering, curriculum development, K-12 professional development, and more. CAST's work is inspired and informed by the learners who often get pushed aside in traditional education settings. From http://cast.org

CAST offers FREE online tools Learning Tools for Educators UDL Curriculum Self-Check (helps educators self-assess their curriculum and teaching habits) http://udlselfcheck.cast.org/ UDL Book Builder (helps educators create digital books to support reading and literacy) http://bookbuilder.cast.org/ UDL Guidelines (Guidelines and principles for creating UDL enabled curriculum) http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines UDL Lesson Builder (assists educators in designing lessons incorporating UDL methods) http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/ UDL Online Modules (Learn the theory, principles, and implementation of UDL) http://udlonline.cast.org/home Strategy Tutor (web-based tool to help students and teachers with Internet research; teachers can also build web-based lessons with this tool) http://cst.cast.org/ Teaching Every Student (Provides explanations, examples, and tools for UDL implementation) http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent Active links provided for those viewing the Power Point presentation on their computers.

CAST offers FREE online tools Learning Tools for Students Science Writer (web based writing tool to help students with science report-writing) http://sciencewriter.cast.org/ UDL Book Builder (helps educators create digital books to support reading and literacy) http://bookbuilder.cast.org/ (available to students, teachers, and parents) UDL Editions (used to present classic stories in an easy to understand format for all-leveled readers) http://udleditions.cast.org/ Strategy Tutor (web-based tool to help students and teachers with Internet research) http://cst.cast.org/ Active links provided for those viewing the Power Point presentation on their computers.

Personalizing CAST (3 strategies for meeting the needs at my school) All the CAST online tools are of high value. To begin meeting the personal needs of our student body, teachers must understand how best to meet diverse needs and how to offer learning opportunities to all learners. To best address this need, the first two strategies are geared towards instructing teachers on UDL. Although teachers make accommodations as necessary, the principles of UDL are not automatically applied and teaching can be vastly improved by adopting UDL methods. Sharing the Teaching Every Student online tool would enable teachers to better understand UDL through explanations and examples. This tool also provides assistance for UDL implementation. Once teachers better understand what UDL is, it is vital that they self-assess their usage of UDL in their curriculums and teaching styles. The UDL Curriculum Self-Check online tool allows teachers to take an honest look at how they teach and where they can make positive changes. Student reading levels vary significantly in regards to both fluency and comprehension. Incorporating the UDL Book Builder online tool into curriculum can help bridge the learning gaps. Teachers can create their own digital books to support reading and literacy. By including graphics, definitions, strategies, and even bilingual content, all students can improve.

Potential Impact of UDL on student learning at my school By incorporating just 3 strategies such as those described in the last slide, positive changes will occur in our learning community. Teachers will improve their teaching methods and include all types of learners making learning available to all students. This will lead to motivated and excited students that want to learn. Teachers will continually self-assess their UDL practices to ensure they are doing all they can to reach every student and make learning relevant and meaningful to all students. Students, teachers, and parents will all benefit from using the online Book Builder tool. Parents will limited English skills can learn with their students and students can further practice skills by reading materials back to their parents. Improved fluency and comprehension skills make it easier for students to improve in all subjects and to feel success and improvement in self-worth and esteem.

Resources CAST http://cast.org/ National Center on Universal Design for Learning http://www.udlcenter.org/ NECTAC http://www.nectac.org/topics/atech/udl.asp Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDvKnY0g6e4&feature=player_profilepage Walden sources?

Special Thank You to Rachel Bordelon for her support and guidance Group 2 members for support and suggestions Walden University for the innovative courses that have helped me improve my teaching methods