Using UDL to Set Clear Goals and Support Every Student’s Learning

Roadmap Setting Goals  Commons Standards, Diverse Needs – Traditional Frameworks: Goals and Methods Linked – UDL Framework (interrelated concepts) – Recognize Goals – Strategic Goals – Affective Goals – Applying UDL to Individual Teaching – Applying UDL to Individual Performance Criteria – Applying UDL to Separate Goals from Methods

Key Ideas Brain research supports the idea that clear goals are essential for learning, but teachers often lack clear goals for students, in part because our reliance on traditional, fixed media leads us to believe there is only one path to learning.

Key Ideas We can apply what we know about the three brain networks and the nature of new media to separate goals from the means for achieving them, interpret standards for particular classrooms, and derive goals that all students can strive for.

Key Ideas Technology can become a flexible tool that supports multiple pathways to common goals.

The project Choose an assessed standards Pick a grade level Choose a Standard, Benchmark and Indicator Develop a multi-day lesson teaching the indicator; include activities and assessments

You will… Develop a clear academic goal

Did you? Structure your analysis of the nature of the standard, goal or unit of curriculum so that you can determine the purpose, then separate the desired outcomes from the means to attain it?

Did you? Guide selection and assembly of flexible media and materials that can support diverse pathways to the goal for different students?

Did you? Communicate goals and means to students so they now what they are doing, how they might do it, and why it is important?

Goals help us Identify the aspect that must be held constant for all students Determine where we can offer flexible options and where we can provide scaffolding without removing the challenge

Types of goals Recognition goals: standards that ask students to identify the who, what, when, and where Strategic goals: standards that ask student to learn how to do something…skills and strategies Affective goals: standards related to affect are still rare…enjoy, appreciate, and use…discovery, summarize readings, make connections, appreciation

Determining the true purpose Recognition goals focused on specific content, that content is key. Strategic goals focused on specific process or medium, that process or medium is key. Affective goals focused on particular value or emotional outcome, the emotional outcome is key.

Using UDL to Support Every Student’s Learning Which methods of teaching are most compatible with the ways that each brain network actually functions? What kind of flexibility must instructional materials have to make individualization work?

Network-Appropriate Teaching Materials Recognition Network – Provide multiple examples – Highlight critical features – Provide multiple media and formats – Support background context

Network-Appropriate Teaching Materials Strategic networks – Provide flexible models of skilled performance – Provide opportunities to practice with supports – Provide ongoing, relevant feedback – Offer flexible opportunities for demonstrating skill

Network-Appropriate Teaching Materials Affective network – Offer choice of content and tools – Offer adjustable levels of challenge – Offer choice of rewards – Offer choice of learning context