(C) CAST 2013

Universal Design for Learning:A Framework for Teaching All Learners

November 20 – 22, 2013Grace Meo and George Van Horn

UDL Connect:http://community.udlcenter.org

For Online Resources & Discussions

Our Group: http://community.udlcenter.org/group/udl-in-nyc-2013-2014

#UDLBronx2013 social media

CASTUDL CenterAIM Center

Use Twitter? Use #UDLBronx2013 in your tweets during the workshop!#UDLchat: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 9-9:30pm ET

(C) CAST 2013

What are we?

Grace Meogmeo@cast.org

George Van Hornvanhorng@bcsc.k12.in.us

(C) CAST 2013

How many years in education?

• Less than 2 years

• Between 3 and 10

• Over 10 years

• Over 20 years

(C) CAST 2013

What is your role?

• Principal• Assistant Principal• Teacher• Cluster• Network Team• Instructional Coach• Other

(C) CAST 2013

What is your grade level?

• Early Elementary

• Upper Elementary

• Middle School

• High School

(C) CAST 2013

Where are you in your understanding about UDL?

1 = Just beginning, what does “UDL” even stand for?

2 = I know a little about UDL.

3 = Ask me anything about UDL: I could led this session!

Day 1: Build your background • To learn how UDL addresses challenges of

learner variability

Day 2: Application • To strategize how to apply UDL to practice

Day 3: Application• To development a realistic plan of action

Workshop Goals

(C) CAST 2013

(C) CAST 2013

Agenda

Day 1 – whole group• UDL Background, part 1 – whole group• Planning for UDL, part 2 – administrators

Day 2 – classroom educators• Diving deep into the guidelines• Applying the guidelines to lessons

Day 3 – whole group• Sharing – Planning – Taking Action

(C) CAST 2013

Build Background in UDL

(C) CAST 2013

• For this workshop?

• For your professional learning?

What are your goals?

(C) CAST 2013

Activity: Preconceptions about UDL

Goal: get to know someone new to you and understand preconceptions.

Step 1: jot down your preconceptions about UDL, e.g. UDL is just good teaching or UDL is differentiated instruction.

Step 2: find someone new to you, share your preconceptions and talk about what this is based on.

(C) CAST 2013

Key concepts

• Variability is the rule.

• Context matters.

• Learning occurs at the dynamic interaction between the individual (variability) & the environment (context).

• UDL is a framework to address variability.

Individual Variability

Individual Variability

(C) CAST 2013

Individual VariabilityIndividual Variability

Developmental Variability

Steven E. Peterson, Hanneke VanMier, Julie A. Fiez & Marcus E. Raichle

Context matters

(C) CAST 2013

UDL: Variability & Context MatterAs you watch, think about:

what you learned, what can you do, why is this important?

(C) CAST 2013

Elbow buddy discussion

• Share a key take-away: What resonated?

• How do concepts o variability and context relate to the Rubik’s cube and the running shoes?

• How would you design a Rubik’s cube?

(C) CAST 2013

(C) CAST 2013

Inspired by Universal Design

… “all new environments and products, to the greatest extent

possible, should be usable by everyone regardless of their age,

ability, or circumstance.”Retrieved May 6, 2011 from

http://www.ncsu.edu/www/ncsu/design/sod5/cud/about_us/about_us.htm

(C) CAST 2013

What is the goal?What are barriers in the design for individuals to reach the goal?

(C) CAST 2013

You can retrofit, however …

(C) CAST 2013

How can you design from the beginning to reduce barriers so all can reach the goal?

(C) CAST 2013

Goal. Barriers. Design. For all.

(C) CAST 2013

Choose one & discuss: Who was it designed for?

What barriers were reduced?Who else benefits?

Ramps

Curb Cuts

Electric Doors

Captions on Television

Easy Grip Tools…

(C) CAST 2013

UD Assumptions1. Not one size fits all – but alternatives

for everyone.

2. Not added on later – but designed from the beginning.

3. Not access for some – but access for everyone.

(C) CAST 2013

Clearing the path for someone with special needs, clear the path for all.

(C) CAST 2013

Building Background:

Started ‘in the margins’

(C) CAST 2013

Building Background:

Started ‘in the margins’Think about a

time when you designed something for one student and many

benefitted.

(C) CAST 2013

What is UDL?

(C) CAST 2013

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

A mindset for designing learning experiences

• all individuals can gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning

• reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all

(C) CAST 2013

UDL• Accounts for variability and context

• Focuses on removing barriers from the curriculum, and not changing the student

• Provides guiding principles that informs the design of learning experiences

• Promotes tight goals and flexible means

(C) CAST 2013

UDL, a translational framework

Research and

InnovationPractice

(C) CAST 2013

UDL, informed by neuroscience- Over one trillion neurons.

- Massively interconnected set of networks.

- The neurons don't change but their interconnections do

- Practice makes permanent.

http://UDLtheorypractice.cast.org Chapter 3© 2008 Xavier Gigandet, et al., PLoS ONE

(C) CAST 2013

• Recognition: the “what” of learning– Multiple means of representation

• Strategic Network: the “how”– Multiple means of action and expression

• Affective Network: the “why” – Multiple means of engagement

UDL, focuses on 3 classes of networks

(C) CAST 2013

• Recognition: the “what” of learning– Multiple means of representation

• Strategic Network: the “how”– Multiple means of action and expression

• Affective Network: the “why” – Multiple means of engagement

UDL Principles

(C) CAST 2013

3 Networks – 3 Principles

(C) CAST 2013

Key Concept: Expert Learner

UDL… Misperceptions: UDL…

Provides high standards for all and promotes student responsibility.

Is about watering down the curriculum.

Recognizes that learner variability is the rule.

Is just for students with special needs.

Is a proactive way to plan for the variability of all learners.

Is the same as differentiated instruction.

Provides choice and options that are flexible, varied, and scaffolded, as appropriate.

Requires technology.

(C) CAST 2013

(C) CAST 2013

Activity: Preconceptions about UDL

Goal: thinking about preconceptionsStep 1: find another new colleague and

discuss your preconceptions and what you have heard so far.

(C) CAST 2013

• Introduction to the UDL Guidelines

After Stretch Break Goals:

http://www.udlcenter.org/sites/udlcenter.org/files/updateguidelines2_0.pdf45

UDL Principles: strategies to address variability & context

(C) CAST 2013

3 Principles

Design for variability to reach goalContext matters

(C) CAST 2013

Goal of learning:Expert learners

• Resourceful, knowledgeable

• Strategic, goal directed

• Purposeful, motivated

(C) CAST 2013

Flexibility: UDL Guidelines

• Do not have to use all depends on goal

• Often using one supports another

• Design may take longer at first, but learner variability is supported

(C) CAST 2013

Identify & interpret patterns of sound, light, taste, smell, and touch

Recognition Network:“what of learning”

(C) CAST 2013

Plan, execute, monitor actions & skills

Strategic Networks: “how of learning”

CAST©2008

Evaluate and set priorities

Affective Networks: “why of learning”

(C) CAST 2013

(C) CAST 2013

Teach lessons that are ‘more full’

• Use UDL Guidelines to build upon the design of learning environments

• Don’t have to use them all!– consider the goal & be strategic

(C) CAST 2013

Variability & Recognition networkCount how many times the players wearing white pass the basketball.

(C) CAST 2013

Summary

• UDL is a framework based in brain sciences that has shown:– variability matters– context matters

• Support variability by using the UDL Guidelines strategically to design learning experiences for all students to reach your goal:

– Options in Representation– Options in Action & Expression– Options in Engagement

(C) CAST 2013

Build Background Knowledge

(C) CAST 2013

Reflect

What new ideas resonated in a way that may influence

what you do in your practice?

UDL Connect:http://community.udlcenter.org

For Online Resources & Discussions

Our Group: http://community.udlcenter.org/group/udl-in-nyc-2013-2014

1. Sign up for the site2. Join our group

Join

(C) CAST 2013

Homework

• Join our workshop website• Think of a lesson/unit that you will be

teaching in the next few weeks– One that you already can predict will be difficult

for some students– One that you would like to work on

(C) CAST 2013

Planning for UDL: Challenges and Actions

• Reflection on key learnings from the large group session.

• Identify barriers in your school that need to be considered as you think about the application of UDL.

(C) CAST 2013

Homework

• Join our workshop website

• Think about the action steps that will engage your team to move forward.

(C) CAST 2013