UDL Strategies and Resources

This website really is an incredible resource for any teacher to have. This site comes with a FREE 30-Day Trial, after that it is a site that you will have to pay for, but it is definitely worth it. It provides an endless amount of free resources such as adapted texts, math tiles, concept maps, and hundreds of other very helpful tools. The site even has a strategy wizard where you can add your subject and the problems that you are having, and it will have provide you with the perfect tools for your dilemma! This is a site that I have already downloaded a ton of their resources, and will continue to do until my membership expires.

The link for this website is https://goalbookapp.com/toolkit/strategies

UDL Examples and Resources

Here is another awesome site created by the National Center on Universal Design for Learning. This is a FREE!!! website that provides so many different free resources for educators that want to use Universal Design for Learning in the classroom. The website provides plenty of useful resources and examples for every single checkpoint that is used in the UDL model. If you are looking to implement UDL to your lessons, look no further than this site! This is a site that I have already used to get different ideas and help with designing UDL lesson plans, and it is a site that I will certainly continue to use.

The link for this site is http://www.udlcenter.org/implementation/examples           

Universal Design Fast Facts

This is another helpful webpage that was created by Ohio State University. This webpage provides a ton of information that can be used by anybody in the field of education. The page provides a ton of information in easy to read and easy to learn fast facts. You get a great definition of Universal Design for Learning, who UDL benefits, the principles of UDL, how to implement UDL, and the essential qualities of UDL all in one great FREE!!!!! PDF webpage. This is a webpage that I regularly look at to remind me of how to implement UDL, and also the refresh myself on the different qualities of UDL.

The link for this webpage is http://ada.osu.edu/resources/fastfacts/Universal-Design-FF.pdf       

UDL Guidelines

This webpage created by the National Center on Universal Design for Learning is a great resource for any teacher. This resource provides the guidelines for using Universal Design for Learning in the classroom. The site provides detailed descriptions and examples on how you can meet the different UDL guidelines. It is extremely helpful for a teacher who is trying to add one of the principles of UDL into their lesson plans. The webpage also provides different helpful and FREE!! resources that you can use in our classroom. This is definitely a resource that I plan on using for years to come.

The link to this webpage is http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines

Universal Design for Learning Guided Notes Sheet

Ohio State University provides a great webpage on the use of guided notes sheets. The webpage provides great information on how the use of guided notes sheets can be any lecture more effective. They state that guided notes sheet follow the principles of UDL because they improve the learning of all students. The website also offers great reasons to why you should use guided notes sheets during lectures such as students will be encouraged to ask more questions and that students will be more active listeners. As somebody who has used guided note sheets in the classroom, I can attest to all of these facts. They are great tool for any student in the classroom. 

The link to the webpage is http://ada.osu.edu/resources/fastfacts/Guided-Notes-Fact-Sheet.pdf

The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) Website

The CAST website is very informative site for anybody who is trying to learn about UDL. CAST is a non-profit organization out of the Boston area that works to expand learning opportunities through the means of UDL. The CAST website also provides its readers with different FREE learning tools that help students through the UDL model. CAST’s site also provides different case stories for those who may be interested in reading more about Universal Design for Learning.

Here is a great video that CAST created to help its readers understand UDL 

This is the link to the CAST website http://www.cast.org/our-work/about-udl.html#.VfH_InuVXq0

The UDL Technology Toolkit

The UDL Tech Toolkit is an extremely supportive webpage for any teacher, or student, who is looking to add different helpful programs and tools to the classroom. This webpage provides various different helpful and FREE assistive technologies for the classroom such as, but not limited to, text to speech software, graphic organizers, study skills tools, and math tools. The webpage also provides different videos and slideshows to help to explain exactly what UDL is, and how it can be used in the classroom. The webpage provides tools for both low-tech and high-tech classrooms so all teachers and learners have access to their FREE!! assistive technologies!

This is the link to the webpage http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/

What is Universal Design For Learning (UDL) ?

Universal Design for Learning is a concept that is used to reach all students in the classroom. Its goal is to minimize barriers for learners, and also maximize their learning. Curricula are designed for every student, no matter how they learn. Universal Design for Learning uses the principles of multiple means of representation to show the “what of learning”, actions and expressions to show the “how of learning”, and engagements to show the “why of learning” to reach all diverse groups of students.

My Introduction to Assistive Techology

This blog will serve as documentation of my professional journey in learning about assistive technology. As I am in the process of acquiring my certification in special education, it is very important that I get educated and accustomed to assistive technology. Assistive technology is something that I will see in the classroom everyday as a special education teacher. Different assistive technologies that can be used in the classroom can be as small as a pencil grip, or as big as wheelchairs and different mobility devices. I am also very interested learning about Universal Design. It is important to be able to design your lessons for different environments and different learners. Universal Design will help to reduce obstacles in classroom for all types of learners.