Overview

This course, co-developed by EDC and CAST (Center for Applied Special Technologies), provides an introduction to the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and strategies for implementing a UDL approach in instructional settings. Universal Design for Learning is an approach to teaching and learning and the development of curriculum and assessment that draws on current brain research and new media technologies to respond to individual differences. UDL curricula, teaching practices, and policies are inherently flexible and therefore may reduce the demand on educators to develop and implement modifications and accommodations to meet individual differences within general education learning environments. The basic premise of UDL is that a curriculum should include alternatives to make it accessible and applicable to students, teachers, and parents with different backgrounds, learning styles, abilities, and disabilities in widely varied learning contexts.

This course is designed to acquaint participants with UDL principles, and provide practical, hands-on experience using software tools and digital media for learning support. Participants will explore how these tools can be incorporated into their classroom practice, and begin preliminary steps to design a curriculum unit that utilizes these tools.

Goals and Products

This course will enable participants to:

• Understand the basic principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Learn strategies for addressing diverse learning needs using digital media
• Learn about the educational potential of digital text and how to locate these resources on the Web
• Explore a variety of software tools to extend learning opportunities for all students
• Prepare preliminary plans for a classroom curriculum project that incorporates some of the UDL software tools explored in the course
• Identify building and district-level resources necessary to support full implementation of UDL in classroom practice

Format and Requirements

This course is divided into six one-week sessions which each include readings, an activity and an online discussion among course participants. The time for completing each session is estimated to be two to four hours.

The outline for the course is as follows:

In the first two sessions, participants will learn the basic principles of UDL, and explore examples of software that utilize these principles. In Session Three, participants will explore the value of digital text in helping make reading materials more accessible to students with varied learning needs. Sessions Four and Five will explore several technology supports for utilizing digital text. Finally, in Session Six, participants will prepare preliminary plans for a curriculum unit that utilizes digital text and technology tools, and consider what kinds of systematic support are needed to incorporate UDL principles into the curriculum.

Prerequisites

Participants are expected to have regular access to computers. In addition, participants should be proficient with using email, browsing the Internet, and navigating to computer files.

As mentioned above, this course requires participants to download demo versions of several types of software. Participants will have guidance from their course facilitators in completing these activities, but should be prepared to address unique issues that arise with their technology as they go through the download process.

Content and Technology Standards

This course, Special Students in Regular Classrooms: Technology, Teaching and Universal Design, will help participants meet the ISTE Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for All Teachers, especially Standards II, III, IV, V and VI.