Week 5 - Universal Design for Learning
Part 1 - Summary:
In this study by Rao et al (2017), they talk about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which is a way to design lessons for all students, including those with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Right now, many students with ID are put in separate classes, which isn't great for their academic growth. Even when they're included in regular classes, it's often just in a non-academic way. So, how can we change this and make sure all students, with and without ID, get a meaningful learning experience together? UDL comes to the rescue! It helps teachers make their lessons more flexible, so they can meet the needs of all students. By doing this, we can engage everyone and give them the support they need to learn effectively. Let's make learning a great experience for everyone!
UDL has three important principles: First, we should give students different ways to learn, which means using various materials like reading, videos, audios, and visuals. This helps everyone, not just those without ID, as it stimulates different parts of our brains and helps us remember better. But for students with ID, it's even more crucial because it helps them find the best way they can learn. We should let students express themselves in different ways. They can write, use speech-to-text, draw, or speak verbally. This is not only beneficial for students with ID but also gives all students the freedom to choose how they want to show what they know. We need to make learning engaging! There are so many ways to do this, like reading and answering questions, watching interactive videos, using tools like Flipgrid or Google Slides for interactive lessons, or having the teacher guide a think-aloud. The key is to make the lessons interesting and interactive, so all students can participate and learn in a way that suits them best.
Part 2 – Cast Universal Design Website
In this lesson, you incorporate UDL guidelines by using multiple media to illustrate ecosystem dynamics with a digital food web on Google Slides. This approach highlights critical features and relationships, making the concept easier to understand. Additionally, using Flipgrid for oral presentations allows students to communicate their knowledge through audio and video, accommodating different communication styles and making learning more accessible for everyone. These strategies create an inclusive and engaging learning experience for all students.
References
Rao, K., Smith, S. J., & Lowrey, K. A. (2017). UDL and intellectual disability: What do we know and where do we go? Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 55(1), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-55.1.37
UDL. (2021). The UDL guidelines. UDL. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://udlguidelines.cast.org/.
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ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts! I know that there are many educators that struggle with their SPED students because they are not in the class. Instead they are pulled out of the classroom. I think that UDL allows teachers to design their lessons where they can be accessible for all students. I think that Flipgrid is a great technology tool that supports UDL because students are able to give oral presentations with audio, videos, etc. Each student can be creative and complete the assignment that best aligns with the way that they individually learn. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete~ Andrea Burk
Hannah-- I love that you brought up the idea of the teachers being able to be flexible with their teacher. It is so important for a teacher to be able to adjust their instruction when needed, and when doing so to benefit the students, it makes it a WIN-WIN. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading your post. - Jensyn Cleveland
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah!
ReplyDeleteI also chose to write about this study! I think you have great points regarding engagement and supporting our students. The visual you included helped me further understand your lesson. I also love using Flipgrids (now known as Flip) in the classroom. The students love making videos, and it helps them focus on the learning target. I also incorporated this in my lesson plan. I agree with you that using this as a strategy helps create an inclusive and engaging learning experience for all students! Great thoughts!
Great summary of the 3 main points of UDL. I like how you explained that UDL is crucial for students with intellectual disabilities, but also benefits students who are neurotypical. UDL is a framework that is great for all learners. I also like how you took what we learned from week 3 and included an infographic! Great work!
ReplyDelete- Lindsay Garza
Hannah,
ReplyDeleteI think that you did a really nice job of summarizing this article and focusing on the most important things! I think it is sad that students who have ID are pulled out of classrooms are not always receiving an education in the least restrictive environment. I am glad that the district I work in really pushes for students, regardless of their disability, to be in the general education setting as much as possible. I also like how summarized the three main components of UDL. I like how you focus on the important of these components for all students, not just students with disabilities because the components are beneficial for all students. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Hello! I really enjoyed reading your post and agree that it is important to provide students different ways to learn and utilize various materials like reading, videos, audios, and visuals to accommodate different learning styles. Personally, I enjoy observing others but I prefer learning activities that provide variety and are hands on. Good job on the post!
ReplyDeleteHello...I am reposting my comment as my name was not reflected on the original post.
DeleteHello! I really enjoyed reading your post and agree that it is important to provide students different ways to learn and utilize various materials like reading, videos, audios, and visuals to accommodate different learning styles. Personally, I enjoy observing others but I prefer learning activities that provide variety and are hands on. Good job on the post!
Hey Hannah, I couldn't agree more: Make the lessons engaging! Make them approachable by all; once students are engaged then you can differentiate to each, but you have to get them into the lesson first. Sometimes I feel that we write lessons hoping that the majority of the kids get it and then we call that good rather than thinking of all of the kids. Thank you for your post!
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah! I love how you added in a graphic to help explain. The engaging portion of lessons is absolutely the most important thing to get students to want to learn! You had a great post, I enjoyed reading it!
ReplyDelete