Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology

UDL Toolkits: Teaching Every Student The Planning for All Learners (PAL) process builds upon two prerequisites: A basic understanding of Universal Design for Learning, andCommitment of participating educators to make the curriculum and learning accessible for all learners. The PAL process begins with the formation of the PAL team, comprised of general education and special education teachers and other appropriate educational specialists at one grade level or with a content specific focus. The team meets regularly during the school year to focus on the foundation of instruction — the curriculum. Identification of a strong team facilitator, responsible for scheduling meetings and agenda, providing and/or facilitating "just in time" support, and actively promoting a growing PAL initiative, is essential to the success of the PAL team. The work of the PAL team must always be aligned with local district and school initiatives, and is guided by state and local curriculum standards. TeachEvaluate lesson/unitRevise lesson/unit

UDL Goal Setter: Tools & Activities: Teaching Every Student The key to helping all students achieve is identifying and removing barriers from our teaching methods and curriculum materials. One effective way to do this is to expand your teaching toolbox with digital media and software. To accommodate a broad spectrum of learners, universally designed curricula require a range of options for accessing, using, and engaging with learning materials. The materials themselves, as well as the teaching approaches, need to be sufficiently flexible to support varied pathways towards common learning goals. Building digital content and tools into your curriculum can help you provide the necessary flexibility to reach diverse learners. The UDL Solutions Finder Tutorial gives you practice in applying CAST's three UDL principles to expand learning options for students. The UDL Solutions Finder Tool structures you in using the three UDL principles to derive UDL solutions to barriers in your curriculum.

UDL Lesson Plan Instructions Instructions The Dilemma How can I teach grade-level standards to all students in general education, regardless of exceptionality? How do I assess and grade them? How do I keep students who already know the skill challenged? How do I follow President Bush’s mandate and leave no child behind without watering down the curriculum? How can I maintain high expectations for all students? The Answer Make learning accessible for all students by universal design for learning. Using the Lesson Plan for Universal Design Keep in mind! The UDL lesson plan is NOT a daily lesson plan. Standards Locate the standards from your State Department of Education website. Plan a schedule for covering the standards during the school year. Use a theme approach for covering the standards when possible. Co-plan with gifted and special educators to see how IEP and enrichment objectives for particular students can be addressed by the standards. Specific Behavioral Objectives Be careful!

UDL Goal Setter: Tools & Activities: Teaching Every Student Growing diversity in today's classrooms increases the need for teachers to individualize instruction. At the same time, heightened concern about student achievement mandates that teachers meet specific local, state, and national standards. These two factors, learning standards and student diversity, seem to pose conflicting priorities. How can teachers set goals that address standards while supporting the unique propensities of each learner? The key is to design a goal that represents the true purpose of the learning activity. The UDL Goal Setter Tutorial steps you through the process of analzying learning standards and benchmarks through the lens of UDL. The UDL Goal Setter Tool supports you in refining your own goals for use in the classroom.