Meeting High School Standards in a Digital World

The Promises of Universal Design for Learning

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Things are always changing…

EDUCATION

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Power of Web 2.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6SefbFbixI&mode=related&search=

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Today’s classroom:

All teachers must deliver instruction to diverse groups of students who come from a variety of cultures with varying languages, learning styles, abilities and disabilities.

Educational demands are on the rise– Shift from acquiring knowledge to integrating knowledge– Higher curriculum standards for ALL students

Schools and classrooms are held to higher levels of accountability.

– No Child Left Behind (NCLB) & Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)– Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) – Equity In Every Instructional Opportunity (EIEIO)

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Language our teenagers are using today…

Beam me the assignment I have to take my earbuds out of my iPod We met on MySpace. He text me, so I

Googled him. I left my cookies all over the web. Brittney Spears is the most searched for

person… and she’s not even lost!

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What we know about student learning:

Students need to be able to: Recognize information, ideas, and

concepts, Apply strategies to process the

information and Be engaged in the process.

Vygotsky

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

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.

Center for Applied Special Technologies, CAST

www.cast.org

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UDL Definition – a closer look

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.

method

research

21st century technology

ALL

students

Multiple means of representation

Content

Multiple means of expression

Product

Multiple means of engagement

Process

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We know . . .

Teachers want their students to succeed, but a one-size-fits-all approach to education simply does not work. How can teachers respond to individual differences?

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UDL & Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated instruction is well received as a classroom practice. It compliments the three principles of UDL.

Center for Applied Special Technologies, CAST

www.cast.org

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UDL: Leveraging Resources

MaterialsTechnologyPersonnel

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A UDL Curriculum

Is designed, developed and flexible from the start.

Has built in supports. Is designed to maximize

options for students and teachers

Meets the needs of all learners.

Is under the auspices of general education.

Center for Applied Special Technologies, CAST

www.cast.org

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UDL Paradigm Shift: how UDL changes the way we think about students and education

Old Assumptions Students who learn

differently constitute a separate category.

New Assumptions Students who learn differently

fall along a continuum of learner differences.

Instructional adjustments need to be made for at risk students.

• Learning is centered on a single text book.

• The problem is with the student – remediate, remediate, remediate..

• Instructional adjustments need to be made for all learners.

• Learning materials are

varied, digital.• The solution is within the

curriculum. A flexible curriculum adapts to the

needs of all students.

Center for Applied Special Technologies, CAST

www.cast.org

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Why is UDL important to teachers?

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Practical First Steps

Start small One unit Connect with others Share Cast Resources

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Your use of Technology in the Classroom

Look at this from two perspectives:

Teacher PresenceStudent Presence

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You as a teacher

Have a web presence (a home base)– Examples:

protopage, pageflake, blackboard etc.

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How do you decide?

Breaking Down Classroom Walls

http://e3t.org/page34/breakwalls.html

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Learn a few new things . . .

Voice Thread– http://classic.voicethread.com/

Podcasting – Example: http://mypodcast.com/

Polldaddy– http://www.polldaddy.com/

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Next, think about application.

How can you use these tools for assessment of student learning?

Think – Pair - Share

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Teacher example

http://swiftpens.mypodcast.com/index.html

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Student Example

http://visitmyclass.com/blogs/h2kkids/

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Imagine the Possibilities

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Remember . . .

“Go Slow to Go Fast”

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Birds flying high you know how I feelSun in the sky you know how I feel

Reeds driftin on by you know how I feel

Its a new dawnIts a new dayIts a new life

For meAnd Im feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feelRiver running free you know how I feelBlossom in the tree you know how I feel

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, dont you knowButterflies all havin fun you know what I mean

Sleep in peace when day is doneThats what I mean

And this old world is a new worldAnd a bold world

For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feelScent of the pine you know how I feel

Oh freedom is mineAnd I know how I feel

- Nina Simone “Feeling Good”