UDL at CMSCE, Rutgers University

Today was our first official day together in Buena Regional School District. We reviewed the UDL Framework so that we are all on the same page. We discussed removing barriers from our lessons and our classrooms and we talked about next steps as we move forward as a group.

Here are some of the resources we looked at as we bookmarked them to our Delicious links.

Free Technology for Teachers
Math Links You Might Have Missed

Mathcasts.org
Math 24 7

Algebra 1 Online
Modules

Please leave a comment with another favorite activity you would share with your students.

We’re going to revisit Twitter today. Twitter is just one of the many ways to network with educators.

There are several things to consider before you dive into using Twitter though:

What are you looking to get from the people you follow?

What are you looking to give to the people that follow you?

Is this the right tool / venue for you to share resources with educators?

Look at the image of the “Networked Teacher”. What other tools appeal to you to communicate, collaborate and share resources with fellow educators? Share or Tweet your comment.

Lisa Parisi, is a 5th grade teacher in Long Island. After years of both good and bad experiences in working in a co-teaching situation, she has compiled her 4 rules for a successful inclusive classroom. Is there anything that you would add to this list? Would you take anything away? Please comment here.

Well if you’ve made it as far as this blog then you’ve made it past the first couple of hours of UDL training. Congratulations! You now have the basic understanding that Universal Design for Learning is the framework for something that you’ve been working so hard as an educator to do for your students this year and possibly for many years past as well.

Please read the article, “Burbank Students Use Blog to Learn English”, by Kim Minugh found at http://www.sacbee.com/220/story/846880.html and comment on the digital project that Larry Ferlazzo designed in collaboration with other educators to help his students learn to become more fluent in English.

Today we have looked at the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and actual lessons. Examining the students we teach, we explored ways to apply Universal Design for Learning and use digital media to reach every learner in our classrooms.

Before you leave today, think about the resources and links we have discussed and explored.

In your comments:
1. Explain how digital media can support learning in your classroom.
2. Share one piece of digital media you plan to use and provide a link so others can view it.
3. Explain how this digital media will engage learners.

We’ve spent a lot of time working on our Toolkit today. You’ve reviewed a handful of tools that you may or may not want to use in your classroom. Please, before you leave, do one of the following:

1. Leave a comment here discussing which tool was your favorite, why and how specifically you see using it with your class.

2. Visit Ira Socol’s blog and read his post from April 9 called Not Getting to Universal Design. Please leave Ira a comment on his blog.

3. Visit Heather’s del.icio.us links and/or Lisa’s del.icio.us links and choose another tool tagged “UDL”. Leave a comment here letting us know which tool you selected. Be prepared to demonstrate the tool the next time we meet as a group.

We hope the theories behind Universal Design for Learning are all coming together for you and that you are excited to implement the strategies in your classrooms.

Lisa Parisi, is a 5th grade teacher in Long Island. After years of both good and bad experiences in working in a co-teaching situation, she has compiled her 4 rules for a successful inclusive classroom. Is there anything that you would add to this list? Would you take anything away? Please comment here.

Today’s presentation can be found online at SlideShare.net.

We spoke a lot today about breaking down the barriers in the classroom. We also discussed the reasons why we evaluate students and the value of Universal Design for Learning in assessment. Please read Paul Hamilton’s post entitled Ira Socol’s Toolbelt Theory and My Blog and comment on his blog or here as to what type of tools you are looking for to increase assessment accuracy and accessibility.

Today’s presentation can be found online at SlideShare.net.

Today we have looked at the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and actual lessons. Examining the students we teach, we explored ways to apply Universal Design for Learning and use digital media to reach every learner in our classrooms.

Before you leave today, think about the resources and links we have discussed and explored.

In your comments:
1. Explain how digital media can support learning in your classroom.
2. Share one piece of digital media you plan to use and provide a link so others can view it.
3. Explain how this digital media will engage learners.

I hope the theories behind Universal Design for Learning are all coming together for you and that you are excited to implement the strategies in your classrooms.

We’ve spent a lot of time working on our Toolkit today – specifically tools for math. Before you spend the afternoon working on using our UDL Lesson Plan Template from Cast read the blog post listed below.

On April 9, 2008, Ira Socol’s posted Not Getting to Universal Design on his blog. Please read his post and leave your comment (reflections) either on his blog or here today.