Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Practice

Dianne LaFortuneMEdTLLP Participant

Leanne ButcherAcademic Applications Specialist

Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board

Behaviourist Constructivist Models Modelsof Education of Education

“Constructivism does not claim to have made earth-shaking inventions in the area of education; it merely claims to provide a solid conceptual basis for some of the things that, until now, inspired teachers had to do without theoretical foundation.” – von Glasersfeld

What is constructivism?The term refers to the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves— each learner individually (and socially) constructs meaning—as he or she learns.

According to Audrey Gray, the characteristics of a constructivist classroom are as follows:

· the learners are actively involved· the environment is democratic· the activities are interactive and student-centered· the teacher facilitates a process of learning in which students are encouraged to be responsible and autonomous

How can technology help in the development of a classroom based on the concepts of Constructivism?

· meeting at smart board workshop (Leanne and Dianne)

· application for grant (Research Officer and Superintendent)

· smart board in my room ... web-quests in lab

· approval of grant ($11 075)

· two teachers using IT increased interest in IT at the school

· technology inventory - software and hardware

· laptops (Manager of Information Technology Services)

· working a group (Principle, Research Officer, Curriculum Co-ordinator, Special Education SAT, Leanne and Dianne)

· ALP to ITC

· literature review - ishare site - wiki

· increase use of AT with IT, digital portfolios, students using digital cameras and videos to document their learning, students work with Research Officer

· development of resources (class web site using share point), teachers and teacher candidates invited to classroom to observe and provide feedback, presentations

Past and Future

From Presentation to Active Learning

Technologycanbeanextensionofourownabilities,intelligenceandenvironment.

• Causesustothinkdeeplyandaskquestions(Googlereceivesseveralhundredmillionquerieseachday.)

• Engagesuswithvisualandaudio

• Allowsallofustoexpressourideas–fromwordprocessingwiththeuseofcoachingtoolstocreativearts

• PromotesandFacilitatessocialinteraction–web2.0wikis,blogs,podcasts,videouploadingandcomments(YouTubehasreached20hoursofvideouploadedeveryminute.That's33minutesofcontenteverysecondor28,800hoursperday.)

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."Alvin Toffler

http://prezi.com/131843/edit/#1

Making Education Accessible

prezi.exe

3ElementsofSuccessforusingTechnologyinEducation

Tools&Resources Presentation Participation

Tools

Technology Used in UDL Project:

· Projector· Teacher Laptop· SMARTBoard· Lab computers· Sound Amplification System· Speakers· Student Laptops· Head Sets/Cd's (listening centre)· Digital Camera· Video Camera· Web Cam

SMART Board

Democracy

Democracy is a mode of associate living, of conjoint communicated experience.

Dewey 1938

The communication which insures participation in a

common understanding is one which secures similar emotional and intellectual dispositions…

Dewey 1916

In directing the activities of the young, society determines its’ own future in

determining that of the young. Since the young at a given time will at some later date compose the society of that period…

Dewey 1916

A truly democratic community requires a kind of knowledge

and insight which does not yet exist.

Dewey 1927

Class Profile

Participation

Student Skill Development· Searching topics using google· using bookmarks· typing in URL's· Downloading images· Using the shared folders· Linking internet sites into their own Notebook presentations· Keyboarding skills

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” William A. Ward

Teacher Skill Development· Using Shared Folders· Lesson development with NoteBook 10· SMARTBoard tools· Web 2.0 tools (Delicious, Wikispaces, Sharepoint)· Ministry Licensed Software (MovieMaker, · Appleworks, Ultrakey)· Trouble shooting abilities

"Tell me, and I'll forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I'll understand"Chinese Proverb

Curriculum

class profile:Education for All

specific expectations that are open

big ideas

rubrics

overall expectations

Standards Based· EQAO· Grade 10 Literacy Assessment

Science and Technology Curriculum Documents

Literacy is about more that reading or writing - it is about how we communicate in society. It is about social practices and relationships, about knowledge, language and culture.

Those who use literacy take it for granted - but those who cannot use it are excluded from much communication in today's world. Indeed, it is the excluded who can best appreciate the notion of "literacy as freedom".

UNESCO, taken from the introduction of Grades 1-8 Language Document

Media Literacy

assessment/research based· Achievement Charts· PM Benchmarks· EQAO· TLCP/TLLP

Some Considerations for Program Planning· activate prior knowledge, scaffold instruction, differentiate

Resources

Ministry Licensed Software (OSAPAC.org)· Write Outloud· Co Writer· Clicker 5· Dragon Naturally Speaking· Gizmos

Free Software & Plugins· Audacity· Notebook 10· Download Helper· Prezi· WikiSpaces

Purchased Software/Resources· StudentLinks· Premiere AT· CPS clickers· Kurzweil

Support Staff · Technicians· Special Assignment Teachers· Application Specialists· Research Officer

Online Sites· SMART Kiddies· Smarttech

Lessons in Notebook

Science in the Computer Lab

Laptops in the Classroom

· assign students to a particular computer· assign a student to charge computers/lock-up· provide a "trouble" sheet to record problems· safety issues (Internet, user names and passwords)· know where all the electrical outlets· access to computers as any other tool in class

· wrote stories and other texts· Indian and Northern Affairs text into Premier Assistive Technology (AH) for a tiered assignment· searches for information for oral presentations in religion· used Notebook to create an interactive oral presentation for cross curricular literacy-science assignment expanding on RAND

Presentations by StudentsUsing Notebook

CPS Clickers· read text to all students

· everyone answers - timing?

· recognition vs recall less demanding on memory

· quickly cover material - assessment tool?

· low level questions - potential for higher level questions at higher grade

levels· time needed to input questions and

responses is offset by virtually no time required for marking

Access· Labtime· Studentlogindif-iculties· Blockedsites(ProxyServers)

Equipment· Computers or peripherals not working· Not enough computers· No money for equipmentloaded

Resources · Software not loaded · Unable to load software mid year · Plug ins not loaded

Access to Technology - Challenges & Tips

Communication!

Accessibility

Process

Product

Content

U DL

niversal

esign

earning

Multiple Means of Representation

Multiple Means of Expression

Multiple Means of Engagement

Assistive Technology in the Classroom and Computer Lab

· SEA equipment (1 student) - FM System· 10 (?) of 30 students on IEPs· 1 alternative, 4 modified (Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies), 5 accommodated IEPs

Using IT as AT is a goal in my classroom. Premier Assistive Technology, Co-writer, Clicker 5, Write-out Loud, SMART Ideas and Dragon Naturally Speaking are on the laptops in the classroom. We are looking at adding Kurzweil to our computer lab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kra_z9vMnHo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvodpod%2Ecom%2Fwatch%2F1408982%2Dno%2Dfuture%2Dleft%2Dbehind%3Fmp%3D1%26pod%3Dpaulhami&feature=player_embedded#t=339

http://makingeducationaccessible.wikispaces.com

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