UDL stands for Universal Design of Learning and addresses the ways a curriculum can be flexibly designed to include all kinds of different learners. Curriculum needs to maximize learning for all students, needs to be understood by all students, and should meet needs, interests and strengths of all students. To reach this goal and take down any barriers in a classroom, 3 UDL principles are to be applied:
1 - provide multiple means of presentation (e.g. multimedia, highlighting), to stimulate the knowledge network in the brain for recognition (the "what")
2 - provide multiple means of action and expression (e.g. models, feedback), to stimulate the skills network in the brain (the "how")
3 - provide multiple means of engagement (e.g. taking risks, choices), to stimulate the enthusiasm network (the "why").
K. Ahrens' article extends this video by offering suggestions how to actually implement the flexible curriculum design. She uses the term "assistive technology (AT) for online tools that can enable diverse learners to be equally included in a flexible curriculum. She offers information on free AT tools for PC (under "accessibility options") and Mac (under "system preferences"). There are many online libraries for visually impaired students, or online spell check programs, or concept map programs. The author suggests working with the school IT department and offers concrete advice how to help shorten the complicated process of installing AT tools in a school district.
This video and article relate to NETS-S standards 3, "Research and information fluency", a-d, by enabling diverse learners to use technology that helps them apply digital tools for their special needs to gather, evaluate, and use information. It also addresses standard 6 a, understand and use technology systems, and 6 b, select and use applications effectively and productively.
As a teacher I will face situations where diverse learners need special support to follow our lessons without feeling being excluded due to learning impairments. This video and article are very encouraging to inform me that there are many technology tools out there to create a flexible curriculum for diverse learners, and I know where to start find effective tools. I will know where to look to adjust and optimize an AT tool for the student(s) that need them.
Ahrens, K. (2011). Build an assistive technology toolkit. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39 (3), 21-23
www.udlcenter.org: Universal design for learning.
No comments:
Post a Comment