Leave equipped with knowledge and strategies to engage ALL scholars in learning.

Class Climate. Adopt practices with respect to both diversity and inclusiveness.

Interaction. Encourage regular interactions with your scholars to ensure that communication methods are accessible to all participants.

Physical Environments and Products. Ensure that facilities, activities, materials, and equipment are physically accessible to and usable by all scholars and that all potential scholars.

Delivery Methods. Use multiple, accessible instructional methods that are accessible to all learners.

Instructional Resources and Technology. Ensure that course materials are engaging, flexible, and accessible for all scholars.

Feedback. Provide specific feedback on a regular basis.

Assessment. Regularly assess scholar progress using multiple, accessible methods and tools and adjust instruction accordingly.

Accommodation. Plan for accommodations for scholars whose needs are not met by the instructional design.

(S. Burgstahler, 2007, http://www.washington.edu/doit/equal-access-universal-design-instruction)

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Presenters

The University of St. Thomas Preparation of Special Education Leadership (PSEL) Scholars

The PSEL scholars are candidates for the Master of Education degree with emphasis on special education leadership. The Preparation of Special Education Leadership Program is a partnership between University of St. Thomas, the Houston Independent School District, Aldine Independent School District, and Pasadena Independent School District.

Contact Us

Ronda L. Harrison
PSEL Masters Degree Candidate 2017
832-607-4803

/ UST universal design for learning (UDL)
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Join us for an engaging professional development event to equip you with strategies to meet the needs of ALL scholars and create highly engaging and effective instruction.
UST universal design for learning (UDL)

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the general education curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all scholars, regardless of their special needs.
Learn how to make your classroom and instruction accessible and engaging.
EVIDENCE of a UDL Classroom:
о Multiple means of representation,
о Multiple means of action and expression, and
о Multiple means of engagement. /

Teachers and School Leaders can expect to gain:

› Guidelines and techniques to apply UDL principles to the design of lessons and curriculum units.
› A list of online teacher resources, scholar-friendly websites, and apps for iPad and Android devices that scholars can utilize both at school and at home.
› Access to and tips on using flexible instructional tools such as CAST learning, authoring, and planning tools: UDL Exchange, Science Writer, and UDL Connect.*
› How to address the learner variability in every classroom and school.
› How to support scholars to become expert learners.
› Cutting edge research from the learning sciences.
› How to implement UDL strategies into their practice.
› Access to district approved UDL resources and programs.
› Optional follow-up UDL implementation sessions in an “Open Lab” format on location at Dogan Elementary on the early dismissal days in November, December, and January by the UST professor and PSEL scholars.
* CAST developed Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that recognizes learner variability and is a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone–not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches to teaching and learning. /
Learn to design multiple means of engagement and assessment for your scholars.
You don’t want to miss this professional development offering. As the district moves towards more inclusive practices, you will need to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to meet the needs of ALL scholars.
Join us in October in the Dogan Elementary Library for an engaging event that will provide you with UDL strategies and demonstrate some of those strategies during our training! You will leave with a thorough primer on what UDL is, why it’s important, and how to begin implementing UDL in your classroom. You will also leave with teacher and scholar-friendly resources to provide greater access to the curriculum for ALL scholars.

UDL and Scholar Engagement Staff Development Event Plan

8:30 a.m. Welcome and Purpose

(School Principal will deliver welcome and Dr. Singer, professor, will deliver purpose of the day and the objectives)

8:45 a.m. Paper/Pencil Task (Introduction to UDL)

(In this activity teachers will attempt to solve a math problem using symbols instead of numerals to replicate how some of their scholars view text that is not easily understood. Teachers will only be provided with pencil, paper, and math manipulatives. This activity and discussion of the obstacles faced by the participants will provide a window into the world of some of their scholars who need other means of representation and expression during instruction. Teachers make suggestions on how the activity could have been made more accessible and conducive to success for more scholars.)

9:15 a.m. The History and Rationale behind UDL

(This short video will provide examples of how Universal Design in architecture has benefited not only people with certain limitations or challenges, but other unintended beneficiaries. Cutting edge research from the learning sciences will be shared to provide the rationale for UDL in the classroom.)

9:30 a.m. The 3 UDL Principles and Guidelines, followed by Case Studies of how UDL has benefited other schools and scholars

(Presenters will explain UDL principles and guidelines. Teachers will then discuss how the principles and guidelines could be used in the case studies and the benefits for all scholars. They will also share how they could utilize UDL in their own classrooms. They will draw/design a UDL classroom on large chart paper and label all of the UDL features and strategies in their model classroom.)

10:00 a.m. Designing lessons with the clear goal of applying UDL strategies to make the learning experiences accessible and engaging to all scholars

(Teachers will be provided guidelines and strategies to apply UDL principles to the design of lessons and curriculum units. Teachers will then be given typical class lessons and activities. They will work in small groups to redesign the lesson activities to include strategies to meet the diverse needs of scholars, including accommodations for scholars with special needs. This activity is to have teachers implement UDL strategies as if they were a general education teacher with several special education and 504 scholars in his/her class.)

11:00 a.m. Sharing of Redesigned UDL Lesson Plans

(This activity will allow teachers to not only gain additional strategies and ideas but to push and challenge each other to make their lessons and activities even more accessible to all scholars, to be creative, to think outside the box and to gain a deeper understanding of how UDL can be implemented and to add to their UDL strategies “toolbox”.)

12:00 a.m. LUNCH

1:00 p.m. Tips and Tools for Implementing UDL

(Teachers will be provided with resources available to successfully implement UDL in their classrooms: UDL Connect, UDL Exchange, UDL Book Builder, UDL Theory and Practice, UDL Lesson Planning Guide, and UDL Science Writer. Teachers will be provided step-by-step lesson planning lesson planning strategies, technology that can be integrated into the lessons, and how to differentiate to meet the needs of all scholars. Teachers will also learn how to utilize UDL to assist with classroom management, improve the classroom culture, and maintain high expectations for all scholars. Flexible instructional and assessment tools will be shared and demonstrated. A list of online teacher resources, scholar-friendly websites, and apps for iPad and Android devices that scholars can utilize both at school and at home.)

2:30 p.m. The Assessment Process

(Teachers will be provided a variety of examples on ways to evaluate mastery of common TEKS, alternate materials and resources that can be utilized to assess TEKS within the UDL classroom. We will answer the burning question of UDL translates into success on the state assessment.)

2:50 p.m. Assessment

(Teachers will perform a learning walk and take pictures of the model UDL classroom designed by their colleagues and share with at least three others one UDL strategy they can implement immediately. They will record the responses of the three teachers they shared with and upload to the event page in the intranet page created for the event.)

3:15 p.m. Closing

(Teachers will be provided with the dates for the follow-up sessions for September, October, and December. Closing remarks by Dr. Singer.)