Class #3 Take Aways

In our third class we dove deeper into understand Universal Design for Learning. What is UDL? This is a question that gets asked often. The answer is that UDL is a set of principles or framework optimized to give all individuals an opportunity to learn. The Cast website provides us with a great overview and explanation of UDL.

Let's have a dinner party! During this class activity we had to plan a meal for many people with dietary restrictions. Planning a meal with many restrictions faced us with a challenge. But once we thought about it, we thought that keeping it simple with options might be best. This in activity, related to accommodating many different students with a variety of needs in the classroom. This activity really showcases the importance of really knowing our students, their strengths and needs. Especially areas they need help in, and getting them the appropriate assistance they need. The Dinner Party Analogy is explained by Katie Novak.

 

Google Read and Write. I have used this extension tool of Google before last year with a struggling student. Once this student was shown how to use it, their written output increased over time, and they were more engaged and willing to participate in their assignments. I found it very easy to navigate myself, and it turn, easy to show students. But I am looking forward to learning more about the extension with my group. With the many different options available within the GR&W, many students with different needs can benefit from it. TextHelp is a great website we have been using to help navigate GR&W.