Universal Design for Learning

Breaking the Barriers

May 29, 2008

Why do we evaluate?

• To determine the effectiveness of curriculum materials and methods

• To compare achievement levels within and across schools, school systems, districts and states

• To evaluate student knowledge and skill

Barriers to Accurate Assessment

• Individual learning differences

• Media constraints

• Lack of appropriate supports

• Lack of integration with curriculum

Individual learning differences

• Individual differences in content recognition

• Individual differences in strategic expression

• Individual differences in engagement

Media constraints

• Considering the type of skill or knowledge being measured and the medium in which it is being assessed

• Crossing media lines to gain a richer understanding of what students know

Lack of appropriate supports

• Focus on the goal of the assessment

• Don’t remove daily supports during an assessment

Lack of integration with curriculum

• Most traditional assessments are detached from instruction and practice

• We need to examine the interaction between student and curriculum over time

• Observe and talk to students

• Ongoing assessment allows us to measure the evolution of the learning

Increasing Assessment Accuracy and Accessibility

• Flexibility in presentation

• Flexibility in expression and strategic supports

• Flexibility in engagement

Flexibility in presentation

• Varied media

• Different Supports– links to background info / vocabulary– Concept map– Key points – Diagram

Flexibility in expression and strategic supports

• Technology tools make it easier for the teacher to provide multiple options

• Teachers can combine a variety of tools to track learner progress

Flexibility in engagement

• Include embedded assessment

• Ensure that every student is working at a comfortable and appropriate stage of difficulty

• Vary the content

Motivation

“the essential engine of learning”