UDL and Teaching Every Student

In my prior postings we have learned what UDL and the components that make it what it is. We have learned about the principles and how UDL can be applied in the classroom setting. Today we are going to look to see how UDL is used in conjunction with reaching every student in our class.

While researching this topic I came across a very interesting website. The website is Creative Educator and can be found here Click Here.  This website explains how UDL can be incorporated into the classroom in terms that anyone can understand. It states, "As teachers think about how to help all students learn, UDL suggests a bottom-up design model that matches each activity and experience to the needs of the students. Using a bottom-up approach means that we are less likely to have a student’s needs go unaddressed, since each student is considered as a foundational part of a lesson rather than as an afterthought. For example, a UDL-designed lesson for a classroom with second-language learners would include materials presented using audio and visual media, rather than text alone. Similarly, for those gifted and talented students, additional in-depth material from books, Web sites, and other sources would also be available. The stresses and realities of teaching suggest that we will not, or cannot, do a bottom-up design for every lesson every year. But if we start by designing one unit or project with a wide variety of needs in mind, we begin building a resource we can build upon and adjust for new learners in future years (Cochran, n.d.).

The goal for every educator should be getting away from the mentality that all students learn the same. Each and every single child is different and this will be evident in your classroom. Classrooms are a melting pot of diversity. You can have a student with a hearing disability next to a student who has dyslexia or maybe in an ELL student. How are you going to reach all of them with a “one approach” technique? The answer is YOU'RE NOT.

To implement UDL into the classroom teachers will have to first research their students to find their strengths and weaknesses (they is key and very important in the UDL process). Next, the teachers will learn how to implement the UDL elements into their classroom. Teachers can learn the UDL process by research and by being trained. Training is not always available in schools districts, so your best bet would be the research aspect. Which I might say is not a bad thing. There are so many sites, blogs, tools, etc, that will help you on the UDL journey.

I think incorporating the use of an IPAD into the classroom can do wonders for all students at every level. The teacher can pick different apps to tailor the needs of his/her students. Also, students seem to really have a connection with technology and it brings confidence to the students. This can also aid the teacher will time. The teacher can set a few of the students on the IPAD and work on other things while they are on them.

Thanks for reading and check back to see new ideas and thought from me on UDL. I hope your learning with me along the way!

Reference:

Cochran, D. (n.d.). Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved from http://creativeeducator.tech4learning.com/v05/articles/Universal_Design_for_Learning.