UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNINGUNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING

SPED 6334 – DIAGNOSTIC TEACHING AND SPED 6334 – DIAGNOSTIC TEACHING AND INSTRUCTIONAL LEARNINGINSTRUCTIONAL LEARNING JULY 2015 JULY 2015

Ngozi O IzuluNgozi O Izulu

Welcome to Olive Branch Academy where we believe that learning is the dynamic interaction of the individual and the environment/content. We incorporate the Universal learning design principles (UDL) to make learning accessible to all our students. Our unique Kindergarten to 4th grade is designed to make the first 5 years of schooling count towards college preparation and global learning!

What is UDL?What is UDL?

Universal Design for Learning Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based (UDL) is a research-based framework that addresses framework that addresses learner diversity at the beginning learner diversity at the beginning of the design or planning effort. of the design or planning effort.

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

School StructureSchool Structure

AccessibilityAccessibilityEffectively and efficiently designed spaces to Effectively and efficiently designed spaces to

meet the specific needs of all students, meet the specific needs of all students, teachers, and administrative staff with teachers, and administrative staff with disabilities including parking spaces, wheel disabilities including parking spaces, wheel chair ramps, automatic push button doors , chair ramps, automatic push button doors , restrooms, multi-height sinks and water restrooms, multi-height sinks and water fountains, playground, labs and librariesfountains, playground, labs and libraries ..

FunctionalityFunctionalityTo foster students' sense of community and To foster students' sense of community and

individuality:individuality:

••Cluster classrooms around common areas.Cluster classrooms around common areas.

••Connect spaces visually with colors and patterns Connect spaces visually with colors and patterns since we are an elementary campus.since we are an elementary campus.

••Provide platform spaces for gathering, sitting, Provide platform spaces for gathering, sitting, and presenting and alcoves for quiet play, and presenting and alcoves for quiet play, reflection, and reading.reflection, and reading.

••Decentralize administrative spaces to encourage Decentralize administrative spaces to encourage active leadership and maximize interaction active leadership and maximize interaction with students. with students.

ProductivityProductivity-Integrate daylighting with high-efficient electric -Integrate daylighting with high-efficient electric lighting to optimize visual comfort.lighting to optimize visual comfort.

-Ensure acoustical comfort. -Ensure acoustical comfort.

-Ensure superior indoor air quality. -Ensure superior indoor air quality.

-Ensure thermal comfort. "Right size" HVAC -Ensure thermal comfort. "Right size" HVAC systems to keep humidity in the comfort zone. systems to keep humidity in the comfort zone.

Give teachers control over the temperature of Give teachers control over the temperature of individual classrooms.individual classrooms.

-Implement the concept of our building being a -Implement the concept of our building being a teaching tool (aka a 3-D textbook or living lab)teaching tool (aka a 3-D textbook or living lab)

-Connect the indoor environment to the outdoors by -Connect the indoor environment to the outdoors by providing operable view windows in classrooms and providing operable view windows in classrooms and easy access from classrooms to gardens and other easy access from classrooms to gardens and other outdoor areas that can be utilized in the curriculum.outdoor areas that can be utilized in the curriculum.

School StructureSchool Structure

SafetySafety

Since providing safe schools is a high Since providing safe schools is a high priority, therefore we will priority, therefore we will

-Maximize visual access to corridors and -Maximize visual access to corridors and school grounds.school grounds.

-Control access to the building and -Control access to the building and grounds by individuals and vehicles.grounds by individuals and vehicles.

-Use durable, non-toxic building materials.-Use durable, non-toxic building materials.

-Provide shelter in cases of emergency. -Provide shelter in cases of emergency.

-Ensure all teachers and scholars are -Ensure all teachers and scholars are trained for fire, tornado, foreign trained for fire, tornado, foreign presence drills.presence drills.

FlexibilityFlexibility

To ensure flexibility and adaptability for To ensure flexibility and adaptability for changing programs and enrollments:changing programs and enrollments:

- We Use operable walls to increase the - We Use operable walls to increase the efficiency of large, multi-purpose efficiency of large, multi-purpose spaces, such as the cafeteria and spaces, such as the cafeteria and gymnasium.gymnasium.

- Accommodate technology upgrades.- Accommodate technology upgrades.

- Allow classrooms to change with the - Allow classrooms to change with the activity and group size. activity and group size.

ClassesClasses

..

Class Schedule

At Olive Branch, the schedule of classes is organized so that all English Language Arts and Math classes are scheduled simultaneously. This schedule allows students to attend the class at the grade level they are functioning at dependent upon ability level. Social skills and support will be provided to students who need it based on age and maturity.

Example: A student is on a 3rd grade level in reading, but on 4th grade level in math, the schedule accommodates his attendance at the appropriate level.

The teacher-to-student ratio remains 15:1. This small ratio allows teacher to pay appropriate attention to the needs, interests, and learning styles of each student. If students with special needs receives instruction in a class, the special education teacher will collaborate with the teacher to provide accommodations, modifications and support for student to benefit from the general education curriculum.Other subjects will run on a flexible schedule to allow for ancillary instruction and lunch schedules

StaffingStaffing The Campus will includeThe Campus will include••Administration staff-Principal, Assistant Principal, Registrar, secretary Administration staff-Principal, Assistant Principal, Registrar, secretary and Nurse.and Nurse.••General Education teachersGeneral Education teachers••Special Education Co-TeachersSpecial Education Co-Teachers••Technology Team-Technology Coordinator and an IT specialist Technology Team-Technology Coordinator and an IT specialist ••Elective Teachers-PE, Art, Music, Theatre.Elective Teachers-PE, Art, Music, Theatre.••Counselor, Related services staff.Counselor, Related services staff. Custodial staffCustodial staffTeachers will be certified in the general education, special education Teachers will be certified in the general education, special education and English as a second language (ESL) with a highly qualified and English as a second language (ESL) with a highly qualified designation( Bachelors degree and /or Masters with minimum of 2-3 designation( Bachelors degree and /or Masters with minimum of 2-3 years teaching experienceyears teaching experienceCore subjects teachers will receive a comprehensive UDL training Core subjects teachers will receive a comprehensive UDL training from an assigned UDL facilitator and train to become facilitators to from an assigned UDL facilitator and train to become facilitators to deliver training to entire staff members. deliver training to entire staff members.

PersonnelPersonnel

All teachers will receive comprehensive technology training on technology All teachers will receive comprehensive technology training on technology integration . Ongoing refresher training and support on early release integration . Ongoing refresher training and support on early release days prescheduled in the academic calendar.days prescheduled in the academic calendar.

Other staff training will include Capturing kids heart(CKH), and Other staff training will include Capturing kids heart(CKH), and Emergenetics.Emergenetics.

InstructionInstruction

InstructionInstruction

Teachers create flexible goals from the standardsTeachers create flexible goals from the standards

Using the UDL guidelines and lesson plan template to Using the UDL guidelines and lesson plan template to create a rich and flexible lesson plan and use create a rich and flexible lesson plan and use instructional strategies that will meet the needs of instructional strategies that will meet the needs of every learner.every learner.

Instructional StrategiesInstructional Strategies

-Creating prior knowledge where there was none-Creating prior knowledge where there was none

-Summarization -Summarization

-Priming for Structure: Our ability to retrieve -Priming for Structure: Our ability to retrieve information based on how it was structured when information based on how it was structured when it first entered our minds, not how we studied itit first entered our minds, not how we studied it

InstructionInstruction

The teacher will use the Universal Design The teacher will use the Universal Design for learning principles to incorporate for learning principles to incorporate differentiated instruction for all students. differentiated instruction for all students.

1. Multiple means of representation1. Multiple means of representation 2. Multiple means of action and expression2. Multiple means of action and expression 3. Multiple means of engagement3. Multiple means of engagement

More Instructional strategiesMore Instructional strategies

-Vividness in learning experiences-Vividness in learning experiences

-Examples contrasted with near examples-Examples contrasted with near examples

- Ample opportunities for articulating and - Ample opportunities for articulating and defending thinkingdefending thinking

-Metaphors and analogies -Metaphors and analogies

-Collaborative efforts among students-Collaborative efforts among students- Encouraging flexible thinking among students; - Encouraging flexible thinking among students;

creating creating mental dexteritymental dexterity

CurriculumCurriculumAll students will follow a general curriculum with on-going collaboration and input from general and special education teachers and IT support All three parties will analyze potential barriers to learning and create solutionsEx: Textbooks (barrier) Digitizing texts (solution)Focus will be on making curriculum flexible for ALL students.

Goals, methods, material and assessment are the focal points of the curriculum.

Curriculum will be embedded with technology, project based learning, cooperative learning.

Teachers will teach scope and sequence

TechnologyTechnology

TechnologyTechnology Using the right technology to get the job done is an important aspect of the technology Using the right technology to get the job done is an important aspect of the technology

implementation.implementation. Efficient effective Hardware and software,Efficient effective Hardware and software, consistent internet accessconsistent internet access Increased availability of digital content that has features such as read aloud, adjustable Increased availability of digital content that has features such as read aloud, adjustable

font, highlighting capabilities, vocabulary tools and picture description of what is being font, highlighting capabilities, vocabulary tools and picture description of what is being readread

Text to Braille converterText to Braille converter Language translatorLanguage translator Features to help student who struggle with executive functioning- timing, initiating, Features to help student who struggle with executive functioning- timing, initiating,

organization, sequencingorganization, sequencing Appropriate assistive technology will be provided to those who require them to make Appropriate assistive technology will be provided to those who require them to make

learning accessible to them learning accessible to them Students and teachers will have access to latest technology in the classroom such as Students and teachers will have access to latest technology in the classroom such as

laptops, tablets.Classroom technology such as Elmos, smartboardslaptops, tablets.Classroom technology such as Elmos, smartboards Istation, Reading A-Z, Science A-Z, Compass learning, Think through math, learning Istation, Reading A-Z, Science A-Z, Compass learning, Think through math, learning

gamesgames

Use digital tools to provide students with flexible learning paths to meet their Use digital tools to provide students with flexible learning paths to meet their unique learning stylesunique learning styles

Technology is a tool that can be used to help teachers facilitate learning experiences that address the diverse learning needs of all students and help them develop 21st Century Skills. At it's most basic level, digital tools can be used to help students find, understand and use information. When combined with student-driven learning experiences fueled by Essential Questions offering flexible learning paths,

AssessmentAssessment

Children will be tested using a variety Children will be tested using a variety of methods according to their needs. of methods according to their needs.

PresentationsPresentations ProjectsProjects ModelsModels One-on-one testing with materials One-on-one testing with materials

neededneeded Paper and pencil testPaper and pencil test Observation during inquiryObservation during inquiry ChecklistsChecklists

Teachers will help student s understand the need, use and value of assessment. Teachers will help student s understand the need, use and value of assessment. Student will have choices on how they would like to demonstrate knowledge Student will have choices on how they would like to demonstrate knowledge

acquired.acquired.

Teachers utilize a variety of methods to assess a student's progress throughout the year, according to his/her personal learning style which will be assessed through teacher observations and assessment preference surveys