Promoting Collaboration A New Function for Special Education Universal Design for Learning (UDL) The What, the Why and the How for Enhancing Learning for All Promoting Collaboration A New Function for Special Education

Today’s Session at a Glance What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)? Why UDL? Components of UDL Guidelines of UDL Principles of UDL Tools, Resources, and Supports

What is UDL? UDL was born from an architectural world intended to design and construct equal access facilities The concept was then transferred to education.

Universal Design “Consider the needs of the broadest possible range of users from the beginning.” — Ron Mace

What is UDL? (c0nt’d) A set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn A way to provide learning opportunities in the general education curriculum that are inclusive and effective for all )

What is UDL? (cont’d) Universal Design for Learning refers to a process by which a curriculum (i.e., goals, methods, materials, and assessments) is intentionally and systematically designed from the beginning to address individual differences.

What is UDL? (cont’d) The purpose of UDL curricula is not simply to help students master a specific body of knowledge or a specific set of skills, but to help them master learning itself—in short, to become expert learners.

What is UDL? (cont’d) Not an afterthought Full access is designed from the onset More cost-effective than retrofitting More elegant and easy-to-use

What is UDL? (cont’d) UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone. UDL is not a single, one-size-fits-all solution, but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.

WHY UDL? Individuals bring a huge variety of skills, needs, and interests to learning. Neuroscience reveals that these differences are as varied and unique as our DNA or fingerprints.

Why UDL? (cont’d) Three Primary Brain Networks Recognition Networks The "what" of learning How we gather facts and categorize what we see, hear, and read. Identifying letters, words, or an author's style are recognition tasks.

Why UDL? (cont’d) Three Primary Brain Networks (cont’d) Strategic Networks The "how" of learning Planning and performing tasks. How we organize and express our ideas. Writing an essay or solving a math problem are strategic tasks.

Why UDL? (cont’d) Three Primary Brain Networks (cont’d) Affective Networks The "why" of learning How learners get engaged and stay motivated. How they are challenged, excited, or interested. These are affective dimensions.

Why UDL? (cont’d) Provides appropriate accommodations [and] supports Eliminates or reduces barriers to academic success for all students Values diversity in the classroom through proactive design of inclusive curriculum Provides appropriate accommodations [and] supports Maintains high achievement expectations

WHY UDL? (cont’d) Increasing options for access Increasing options for participation Increasing options for demonstrating learning Leading to increased equitable access to the general curriculum  Higher achievement Higher graduation rate Lower drop out rate

Why UDL? (cont’d) More Educators are… Teaching effectively in classrooms with diverse student needs Spending more time on instruction and facilitating learning Helping ALL learners succeed

Why UDL? (cont’d) More Students are… Engaged in their own education Learning at greater breadth and depth Achieving at higher levels Motivated to continue learning

Components of UDL Goals are often described as learning expectations.

Components of UDL (cont’d) Traditional Learning goals may get skewed by the inflexible ways and means of achieving them. UDL Learning goals are attained in many individualized ways, by many customized means.

Components of UDL (cont’d) Methods are generally defined as the instructional decisions, approaches, procedures, or routines that expert teachers use to accelerate or enhance learning

Components of UDL (cont’d) Traditional Teacher centered (lecture) Homogeneous grouping Burden on student to adapt to “get it” UDL Interactivity Heterogeneous grouping Rich supports for understanding, independent learning

Components of UDL (cont’d) Materials are usually seen as the media used to present learning content and what the learner uses to demonstrate knowledge

Components of UDL (cont’d) Traditional Mostly print and everyone gets the same materials Few options UDL Variety of materials and formats to reach learners with diverse abilities, styles, and needs equally well.

Components of UDL (cont’d) Assessment is described as the process of gathering information about a learner’s performance using a variety of methods and materials in order to determine learners’ knowledge, skills, and motivation for the purpose of making informed educational decisions.

Components of UDL (cont’d) Traditional Confuse goals with means. Summative—when it’s too late to adjust instruction! UDL Many positive means as long as they measure learning! Supports instructional improvement.

Guidelines of UDL Guideline 1: Provide options for perception Learning is impossible if information is imperceptible to the learner, and difficult when information is presented in formats that require extraordinary effort or assistance. To reduce barriers to learning, it is important to ensure that key information is equally perceptible to all learners by: providing the same information through different modalities providing information in a format that will allow for adjustability by the user

Guidelines of UDL (cont’d) Guideline 2: Provide options for language, mathematical expressions, and symbols A picture or image that carries meaning for some learners may carry very different meanings for learners from differing cultural or familial backgrounds. As a result, inequalities arise when information is presented to all learners through a single form of representation.  An important instructional strategy is to ensure that alternative representations are provided not only for accessibility, but for clarity and comprehensibility across all learners.

Guidelines of UDL (cont’d) Guideline 3: Provide options for comprehension The sole purpose of education is not to make information accessible, but rather to teach learners how to transform accessible information into useable knowledge. Proper design and presentation of information – the responsibility of any curriculum or instructional methodology - can provide the scaffolds necessary to ensure that all learners have access to knowledge.

Three Fundamental Principles of UDL Multiple Means of Representation To increase recognition Multiple Means of Expression To expand purposeful output Multiple Means of Engagement To enhance involvement

Multiple Means of Representation Provide options for perception Provide options for language, mathematical expressions, and symbols Provide options for comprehension Perception Customized displays Auditory alternatives Visual alternatives Expression Vocabulary and symbols Syntax and structure Decoding Understanding Multiple illustrations Comprehension Background knowledge Patterns and relationships Information processing Transfer and generalization

Multiple Means of Representation (cont’d) Examples Offer text-to-speech, video, audio, and other multimedia; integrate assistive technologies into learning environment Provide vocabulary support and background knowledge Highlight critical features & main ideas

Multiple Means of Representation (cont’d) Read aloud Highlight phrases Listen to audiotapes Text-to-speech What are your ideas? Generate examples of how you have represented information in alternative formats. Generate new and creative possibilities.

Provide Multiple Means for Action and Expression Options for physical action Options for expression and communication Options for executive functions Physical action Vary response and navigation Optimize tools and technologies Expression and communication Multiple media Tools for construction and composition Graduated levels of support Executive functions Goal setting Planning and strategy development Managing information and resources Enhance monitoring progress

Multiple Means of Action and Expression (cont’d) Examples Let students show what they know with voice recording, graphic displays, performance, etc. Provide models of expert performance Offer executive-function supports such as graphic organizers, outlines, etc.

Multiple Means of Action and Expression (cont’d) Voice recording Graphic displays Graphic organizers Dance or movement Embedded prompts Checklists Spellcheck Story webs and outlines Sentence starters What are your ideas? Generate examples of how you have allowed multiple means for action and expression. Generate new and creative possibilities.

Provide Multiple Means for Engagement Options for recruiting interest Options for sustaining effort and persistence Options for self- regulation Recruiting Interest Individual choice and autonomy Relevance, value and authenticity Minimize threats and distractions Sustaining effort and persistence Heighten salience of goals and objectives Vary demands and resources Foster collaboration and community Increase mastery-oriented feedback Self-Regulation Promote expectations and beliefs

Multiple Means of Engagement (c0nt’d) Examples Vary levels of challenge and support to prevent frustration or boredom Tie work to real-world examples Where possible, give choices Teach self-assessment and reflection Implement school-wide positive behavioral interventions and support

Multiple Means of Engagement (cont’d) Flexibility in use of tools Provide choice in mode of expression Connect to community opportunities Use flexible grouping strategies Create positive school culture Peer tutoring Differentiated goals What are your ideas? Generate examples of how you provided multiple means for engagement. Generate new and creative possibilities.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Managing Student Behavior “Creating classroom norms, expectations and rules are a golden opportunity to establish and sustain student engagement, use it.” - Dr. Mary Magee Quinn

Universal Design for Learning Guidelines

What are the Take -Aways? Learn more about UDL Research universally-designed products Share your UDL resources and lesson plans with others Consider UDL when adopting curriculum policies

Supports for UDL Statutes and Regulations No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)

Supports for UDL (cont’d) US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs Institute for Education Sciences Office of Postsecondary Education National Science Foundation

Supports for UDL (cont’d) Exploring the Three Principles http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines

Supports for UDL (cont’d) The Role of Technology in UDL http://www.udlcenter.org/resource_library/articles/udlunplugged The Seed Lesson Example lesson illustrating how all principles of UDL can be met even with limited technology

For More Information OSEP Ideas that Work - UDL Toolkit http://www.osepideasthatwork.org/udl/ National UDL Task Force www.udl4allstudents.org CAST www.cast.org National UDL Center www.udlcenter.org

Have you smiled today?

And Remember: Life may not be the party I had hoped for And Remember: Life may not be the party I had hoped for........... But while I'm here I might as well listen to the music and dance!