top of page

Definitions & Key Concepts  

Universal Design for Learning

 

UDL is a framework but also a mindset. Many districts are embracing UDL be struggle to fully implement it, to incorporate technology effectively to support it and to provide teachers with practical strategies and models to help change their classroom practice. If you are unfamiliar with UDL consider the following three images.

 

 

Imagine if we built running shoes only for the average - size 8 1/2 - a one-size-fits-all approach? Currently most schools desgin assessment, goals, methods and materials for the "average" students. And then blame the performance on the "runner" not the "shoe".

 

There are multiple pathways to ski down the mountain each geared to a certain level of skill and experience. Schools should be designed in the same way, providing multiple means to allow everyone to arrive in their own way to the same destination. 

Who can't use a Rukic's cube?  In this image the rubik's cube is designed to be used by the highest number of people based on its original design, without modification or alteration.  What would schools and learning  look like if they were designed in the same way?

Professional Learning​

 

Professional Learning is the application of an iterative cycle of inquiry, teachers engage in daily, within a collaborative and supportive environment, with the intent to change practice. (Hannay, Wideman & Seller, 2006) This type of professional learning isn’t an event or even a series of events. It is behaviour. Shared with others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In many ways PD becomes embedded in a teachers’ professional learning. Rather than a standalone event it becomes part of a menu of choices related to professional growth.

In practice, inquiry engages teachers as learners in critical and creative thinking. It honours openness and flexibility. Through collaborative dialogue, teachers seek emergent possibilities – new questions and solutions to student learning and achievement. This stance is “iterative,” repeating progressively as teachers reflect and build on each successive inquiry. (Ontario Ministry of Education 2012)

Common Core State Standards

The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the Common Core. http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/

 

There are significant “shifts” in the CCSS that require teachers to teach differently. CCSS explicitly references the support of students with learning differences and focuses on Universal Design for Learning as a means to support a variety of learner needs. 

 

Many district are struggling to help teachers. Many districts are replicating old practices and discovering that students are not successful with the new assessments using old instructional methods.

 

UDL Images
Professional Learning Cycle

References:

 

A new vision for teacher professional growth & support. (2013, May). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.system2020.org/

 

About the standards. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/

 

Easton, L. (2008). From professional development to professional learning. Phi Delta Kappan, 89(10), 755-759. Retrieved from http://pdingt.pbworks.com/f/From%20PD%20to%20Prof%20Lrng.pdf

 

Fast facts-Students with disabilities, inclusion of. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=59

 

Fast facts-Educational institutions. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=84

 

Feld, B., & Mendelson, J. (2011). Venture deals: Be smarter than your lawyer and venture capitalist. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

 

Fertig, B., & Garland, S. (2012, June 01). Millions spent on improving teachers, but little done to make sure it's working. Retrieved from http://hechingerreport.org/content/millions-spent-on-improving-teachers-but-little-done-to-make-sure-its-working_8696/

 

Grant, K., Hamilton, T., & Hamilton, J. (2012). Professional Learning Guide. Retrieved from Sublime Learning website: http://www.sublimelearning.com

 

Grant, K. (2012). eTeachables: Supporting transformational practices in classroom instruction. Portland, OR: Sublime Learning.

 

Grant, K. (2009). Then what: Getting started with inclusive technology. Retrieved from http://www.setp.net/

 

Grant, K. (2009). Beyond graphic organizers: Why Inspiration is a quintessential UDL tool. Retrieved from http://www.setp.net/

 

Hannay, L., Wideman, R., & Seller, W. (2006). Professional learning to reshape teaching. Toronto: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.

 

Inclusion basics: What the legislation requires. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://inclusiveschools.org/inclusion-basics-what-the-legislation-requires/

 

Inglee, J. (2012, November 16). A look at why so many kids in the U.S. are dropping out of school. Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/11/16/look-why-so-many-kids-us-are-dropping-out-school

 

Lepi, K. (2013, November 9). Study: Teachers Love EdTech, They Just Don't Use It - Edudemic - Edudemic. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/teachers-edtech-study/

 

Mageau, T. (2012, May 5). Online Communities of Practice: What Works -- THE Journal. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2012/05/16/Online-communities-of-practice-Cops.aspx?Page=1

 

Meyer, A., Rose, D., & Gordon, D. (2013, December). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice. Retrieved from http://udltheorypractice.cast.org/login

 

Ministry of Education (2010). Collaborative teacher inquiry. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/CBS_Collaborative_Teacher_Inquiry.pdf

 

Parr, C. (2013, May 09). Mooc completion rates 'below 7%' Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/mooc-completion-rates-below-7/2003710.article

 

Ries, E. (2011). The lean startup: How constant innovation creates radically successful businesses. London: Portfolio Penguin.

 

The center for education reform - K-12 facts. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.edreform.com/

 

Why students drop out. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.dropoutprevention.org/statistics/quick-facts/why-students-drop-out

 

References:

 

A new vision for teacher professional growth & support. (2013, May). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.system2020.org/

 

About the standards. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/

 

Easton, L. (2008). From professional development to professional learning. Phi Delta Kappan, 89(10), 755-759. Retrieved from http://pdingt.pbworks.com/f/From%20PD%20to%20Prof%20Lrng.pdf

 

Edyburn, D. L. (2010). Would you recognize Universal Design for Learning if you saw it? Ten propositions for the second decade of UDL. Learning Disability Quarterly, 33(1), 33-41. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/edyburn/www/UDL2ndDecade.pdf

 

Fast facts-Students with disabilities, inclusion of. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=59

 

Fast facts-Educational institutions. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=84

 

Feld, B., & Mendelson, J. (2011). Venture deals: Be smarter than your lawyer and venture capitalist. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

 

Fertig, B., & Garland, S. (2012, June 01). Millions spent on improving teachers, but little done to make sure it's working. Retrieved from http://hechingerreport.org/content/millions-spent-on-improving-teachers-but-little-done-to-make-sure-its-working_8696/

 

Grant, K., Hamilton, T., & Hamilton, J. (2012). Professional Learning Guide. Retrieved from Sublime Learning website: http://www.sublimelearning.com

 

Grant, K. (2012). eTeachables: Supporting transformational practices in classroom instruction. Portland, OR: Sublime Learning.

 

Grant, K. (2009). Then what: Getting started with inclusive technology. Retrieved from http://www.setp.net/

 

Grant, K. (2009). Beyond graphic organizers: Why Inspiration is a quintessential UDL tool. Retrieved from http://www.setp.net/

 

Hannay, L., Wideman, R., & Seller, W. (2006). Professional learning to reshape teaching. Toronto: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.

 

Inclusion basics: What the legislation requires. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://inclusiveschools.org/inclusion-basics-what-the-legislation-requires/

 

Inglee, J. (2012, November 16). A look at why so many kids in the U.S. are dropping out of school. Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/11/16/look-why-so-many-kids-us-are-dropping-out-school

 

Lepi, K. (2013, November 9). Study: Teachers Love EdTech, They Just Don't Use It - Edudemic - Edudemic. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/teachers-edtech-study/

 

Mageau, T. (2012, May 5). Online Communities of Practice: What Works -- THE Journal. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2012/05/16/Online-communities-of-practice-Cops.aspx?Page=1

 

Meyer, A., Rose, D., & Gordon, D. (2013, December). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice. Retrieved from http://udltheorypractice.cast.org/login

 

Ministry of Education (2010). Collaborative teacher inquiry. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/CBS_Collaborative_Teacher_Inquiry.pdf

 

Morrison, D. (2013, February 13). How not to design a MOOC: The disaster at Coursera and how to fix it. Retrieved from http://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/how-not-to-design-a-mooc-the-disaster-at-coursera-and-how-to-fix-it/

 

Parr, C. (2013, May 09). Mooc completion rates 'below 7%' Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/mooc-completion-rates-below-7/2003710.article

 

Ries, E. (2011). The lean startup: How constant innovation creates radically successful businesses. London: Portfolio Penguin.

 

The center for education reform - K-12 facts. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.edreform.com/

 

Why students drop out. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.dropoutprevention.org/statistics/quick-facts/why-students-drop-out

 

 

References

Images:

 

Home Page: Images from Pixabay (www.pixabay.com), Data image created using PowerPoint™

 

The Deck: Images created by Kendra Grant

 

Slide Images: Images from HaikuDeck (www.haikudeck.com), CC license attached to each image, additional images from Pixabay (www.pixabay.com)

 

The Solution: Framework & Phased Implementation images by Kendra Grant

 

Secret Sauce: Silicon Valley image from http://www.hbocanada.com/siliconvalley/

 

Platform Design Images: Copyright WPBench & Prelude, 2014, Used with Permission

 

UDL Rukic's Cube & Ski Images: Copyright CAST, 2013, Used with Permission

 

Professional Learning Cycle: Copyright Sublime Learning, 2012, Designed by Kendra Grant, Terri Hamilton & Johnny Hamilton

Video Clip:

 

FitBit Video Clip retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/user/FitbitOfficialSite

Images
bottom of page