Universal Design for Learning

Wow, there was so much information to take in and process for this assignment. The possibilities for UDL are so exciting and it makes such logical sense. As I was reading the assignment, I kept thinking about the movement for inclusion and how it can sometimes be challenging as a classroom teacher to accommodate those learners with special needs. The digital media that can be incorporated with the UDL method would make so many students feel more "included" in their classroom in a way that was not obvious to others. If all students had the opportunity to choose the method by which they could learn, not only would they feel more ownership over their learning, but they would also feel more comfortable.

A few other thoughts came to mind as I was reading this. When I student taught fourth grade, I worked with a student with special needs who was reading two grade levels below her class. We used "book clubs" as part of the reading curriculum and she desperately wanted to read Bridge to Terabithia, which was too challenging for her. I opted to record the book on tape for her myself so that she could be part of the discussion, since she was usually in a one-on-one setting for reading instruction. This allowed her to take part in the comprehension aspect of the story and work with her peers. I continued to work simultaneously with her on decoding. Her inclusion with her classmates on the harder book helped to give her more motivation and she really began to enjoy reading, instead of being frustrated by it. I didn't realize at the time that I was helping her learn in the UDL way! I just wanted to try to meet her needs in any way I could.

The second thought that came to mind was that digital media truly has amazing possibilities. This week's episode of Grey's Anatomy was a perfect example. Dr. Bailey decided to use Twitter to allow 3,000 residents across the country to follow her surgeries. When the Chief found out, he was angry and thought the residents in the O.R. were merely "texting" so he shut it down. Dr. Bailey continued to tweet and when a crisis ensued, the Chief soon learned that the skills of his residents in house could be enhanced by the thousands out there in the world. One of those tweets suggested a method that ultimately helped to save the patient. The Chief became a believer! All of this would not be possible without digital media....amazing!

Below is my concept map for how I interpret UDL: