Implementing Universal Design for Learning and

Differentiated Instruction With Free Web Tools

Cheryl A. Wissick (University of South Carolina) • • • • •

J. Emmett Gardner & Marsha Dempsey(University of Oklahoma)

CEC, Seattle April 2009 Poster Presentation

Abstract: Effective instruction to

accommodate learning and social emotional needs of diverse learners includes Universal Design for Learning. Free technology tools can be used to enhance access and support progress in the general education curricula. Receive information on free Web 2.0 resources that support collaboration and allow for differentiated instruction.

Universal Design for Learning:

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides students access to educational standards and materials by providing multiple access points (e.g., presentation, expression, and engagement) to activities. It also begins when you design instruction not as an accommodation to a fixed activity (or course curriculum); but where you design the activity with considerations for diverse learners built in from the beginning!

Multiple Means of Presentation

Provide Multiple Examples

Highlight Critical Features

Provide Multiple Media & Formats

Support Background Knowledge

Recognition networks: Content is the focus

Support via Recognition Networks

Variety of web sites to demonstrate, links to support information

• Pictures from CD-Roms & Web• Word processors to highlight

critical words• Presentation tools to animate

concepts• Books on tape; Digital text• Charts, graphs, images to

support text

ReadPlease Vs. Natural Readers

The verdict is: both are easy to install and use

Web Anywhere

Use on any browser and link to pages to have them read.

Books OnlineReading books online providing

multiple means of presentation: Children’s Digital Library

Project Gutenberg

Bibliomania

Readprint

Bartleby

Bookshare http://www.bookshare.org

Create books for students with Learning Prompts

Students create books for younger students - service learning

Bookbuilder

UDL Editions

http://udleditions.cast.org

4Teachers.org Teach with Technology

http://www.4teachers.org

Tools for Student expression Project Poster NoteStar Persuade Star

Tools for Productivity & management TrackStar (organize Web sites for

research) QuizStar (manage quizzes) RubiStar (rubrics)

Organize Websites for student research & access

Multiple Means of Expression

Provide Flexible Models of skilled performance

Provide opportunities to practice with supports

Provide ongoing, relevant feedback

Offer flexible opportunities of demonstrating a skill

Strategic Networks: Process or medium is the focus

Wissick & Gardner

Support via Strategic Networks

Examples and not-examples with images, video, live or taped demonstrations

• Scaffold learning with text-to-speech, word prediction, layered Web sites

• Text-to-speech to listen to one’s own writing

• Videotape of skill performance• Online feedback from peers or

mentors• Creating web pages, posters,

presentations

Word Web – Vocabulary Support

Spelling Checkers Ghotit write

Another new one:Ginger Software

Word Prediction

Expression: Writing Support

Click n Type Free onscreen keyboard

Word prediction

ReadPlease can also support creative writing with auditory feedback

Concept Mapping Tools

Cmap tools http://cmap.ihmc.us/

FREEMindhttp://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Wissick, 2007

Expression: Read, Write, Think

Student Materials

http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp

Wissick, 2007

Read Write Think

Lessons Activity

LessonPlans

ByGrade

Tool

Expression: Writing Support

Writing Sample Analyzerhttp://obsidian.sktyler.com/tools/writer/sample.php

Copy and paste up to 5000 words.

Provides students with alternative support for their writing

Have students graph their progress.

Provides 3 types analysis.

Obsidian Studios

Wissick, 2007

Idea Generator

Tools for Mathematics

Virtual Manipulatives http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.htm

Shodor Interactivate http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

Webmath - tutorials http://www.webmath.com/

Allmath - flash cards http://www.allmath.com

Math.com http://www.math.com

Wissick, 2007

Virtual Math Manipulatives

Wissick, 2007

Web Math

Multiple Means of Engagement

Offer choices of content, tools and engagement

Provide adjustable levels of challenge

Offer a choice of rewards

Offer a choice of learning context

Affective networks: Value or emotional outcome is the focus

Support via Affective Networks

Choose realistic topics of interest to embed the learning material

• Allow student to choose tools or technology to explore topic- software, web, video

• Select Software or Web sites that offer same content at different levels of challenge

• Build awareness of accomplishment and progress within technology programs

Classroom Architect4teachers.org

Collaborative graphic organizer

Mindmeister

Expression

Collaborative Presentations

Google docs

Preezo

Zoho

Expression

Wiki in the Classroom Secure sites to create an

environment for students to work collaboratively

Students publish together and for a larger audience

PBWiki

Wikispaces

Wetpaint

Blogs in the Classroom Secure sites to create an environment

for students to read, analyze, and post comments related to instructional goals. Imbee TIGed Haiku Blogger Edublogs

ToonDoo

Intervention Central

Survey Tools Find out what motivates your students

Jackpot: online reinforcer survey

Survey tools:

phpSurvey

Zoomerang

Survey Monkey

Google Docs

KidTools and

KidSkills

Self-

monitoring &

checksheets

Bookmarking & Sharing Tools

Del.icio.us delicious.com/

Ma.gnolia ma.gnolia.com/

Blinklist www.blinklist.com/

Diigo www.diigo.com/

ProProfs www.proprofs.com/

Notetakers & Lists: TA DA List

Others:Remember the Milk

HOTT notes

MyNote IT

Screencast & Capture Tools

Jing http://www.jingproject.com/

CamStudio http://camstudio.org/

Snippy http://www.bhelpuri.net/Snippy/

Gadwin http://www.gadwin.com/printscreen

Examples of Matching Technology Tools with Principles of Universal Design for Learning

to Enhance Skills:

Reading

• Reading a Web page using eTextReader (http://www.readingmadeez.com) or ReadPlease (http://www.readplease.com) to adjust page layout and highlight words as they are read.

• WordWeb (http://wordweb.info/free/) to look up a definition of a word on a web page.

• Using OPAKI (http://www.interventioncentral.org/htmdocs/tools/okapi/okapi.php) and BiblioMania (http://www.bibliomania.com) create a reading fluency prompt.

Reading Creating a “takehome” audio book:

Converting text-to-speech (and to an mp3 file) by using Natural Reader (http://www.naturalreaders.com).

• Use an E-Text version of a book downloaded from Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/).

• Developing a UDL book using BookBuilder by CAST (http://bookbuilder.cast.org).

Using UDL Editions to read The Tell Tale Heart.

WritingCreating a book report using a word processor

and Click-N-Type (http://cnt.lakefolks.org/) to provide word prediction and scanning.

• Using CMap (http://cmap.ihmc.us/) to build thoughts/ideas into a complete report.

• Writing a class book using a PBwiki (http://www.pbwiki.com).

• Following a trail of web sites that have been selected as research or writing prompts with Trailfire (http://www.trailfire.com).

Communicating• Working together to create a collaborative graphic

organizer with Mindmeister (http://www.mindmeister.com) or a group presentation using Preezo (http://www.preezo.com)

• Creating a web page with Project Poster (http://poster.4teachers.org) to summarize research.

• Using a blog to post a question that focuses on higher order thinking skills for students to post comments.

• Creating a Jackpot interest survey (http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/jackpot/jackpot.php) for your students to indicate their preference for reinforcers, then use those when a project is completed.

MathematicsVirtually manipulating algebra tiles at

http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/vlibrary.html• Learning about money at the Brain Pop web site and turning on

the closed captioning (http://www.brainpopjr.com/math/money/dollarsandcents/zoom.weml)

• Reviewing math skills using Web Math (http://www.webmath.com).

• Practicing math concepts with interactive activities from Shodor (http://www.shodor.org/interactivat)  or Illuminations (http://illuminations.nctm.org/).

• Using a talking calculator to see and hear numbers & answers (http://www.readingmadeez.com/TalkingCalculator.php).