(ITEC) UDL and Accessibility: Tips to Make Tech Work for All Learners

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Agenda

What is UDL?

Designing Inclusive Lessons

Technology Use & Design

Considerations for Current Practices

Tools & Resources

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Design Matters

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A 2018 study by the National Center on Universal Design for Learning found that around 60% of U.S. school districts had at least one staff member who was familiar with UDL. However, this study was limited to the United States and did not measure the familiarity levels of individual educators.

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What is UDL?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework that aims to provide equal opportunities for learning by accommodating individual differences and needs. UDL is based on the principle that learning environments should be designed from the outset to be accessible and inclusive for all learners, rather than being adapted for specific individuals or groups.

Design Matters

Instructional design facilitates proactive, inclusive instruction aligned with UDL's principles through accessibility expertise and meaningful implementation planning.Let's check out some design errors and examples! ➡️ ➡️ ➡️

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Example#3

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Action & ExpressionTinkercad

RepresentationHelperbird

EngagementPhET Simulations

withTech!

How can I Provide Multiple Means of...

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Engagement

Action & Expression

Representation

SupportsSetting up all students for success from the get-go

Technology Use in Design

No walls, just opportunities

Imagine a classroom where all students can thrive. How can UDL help you achieve this?What hidden barriers might be preventing your students from reaching their full potential?

Features to consider in Tools

BarriersPlanning for detours and road blocks with tools and strategies

AccessibilityCan every learner use this tool?

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TasksTools that are capable for the learning target

Source: CAST

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Considerations For your class

Tip 3. Share examples and non-examples

Tip 4. Increase opportunities for collaboration

Tip 5. Ensure resources and supports meet the demands of a task

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Tip 2. Offer time for active reflection on learning and engagement

In a UDL space, learners are engaged through deliberate design of the learning environment.How can educators design learning environments that support the growth and development of purposeful, motivated learners?Leave them speechless!

Tip 1. Support risk taking

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Source: CAST

Considerations For your class

Tip 6. Incorporate authentic and relevant examples

Tip 8. Present flexible assessment options

Tip 9. Minimize distractions

Tip 10. Create clear, specific goals

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Tip 7. Provide frequent, formative feedback

UDL isn't about fixing, it's about unlocking potential.Diverse activities, multimedia formats, and varied response options benefit all learners, creating an inclusive classroom that fuels engagement and empowers everyone.

Tools for UDL

Edtech tools with UDL in mind are essential for creating an inclusive classroom. They offer diverse learning methods, increase engagement for all students, and support learners with different strengths and weaknesses. NOT EVERY PRACTICE WITH A TOOL HAS A UDL MINDSET!

Quizizz

Magic School

Book Creator

Explain Everything

Kami

Chromebooks

Microsoft

Seesaw

Padlet

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iPads

Kahoot!

Google Workspace

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This is just a glimpse into UDL! There are many resources available online and in professional development settings to delve deeper. Remember, UDL is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. It's about constantly refining our teaching practices to embrace the unique strengths and needs of all learners.

CAST UDL ExhangeBrowse and build resources, lessons and collections with UDL in mind

TexthelpDevelops assistive tech and software to help people with various learning needs

UDL 3.0Latest version promoting learning environments to remove barriers to benefit all

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Ludia Chatbot on PoeLUDIA was created as an entry point and scaffold for developing a Universal Design for Learning mindset,

You could keep in touch!

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Although it's not a student creation tool, creating choice boards can help student decide how they want to show mastery and knowledge.Magic School's Choice Board Generator directly supports this by allowing teachers to create assignments with options that cater to various learning styles, interests, and abilities. This flexibility fosters inclusivity, increases student motivation, and helps educators differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students in their classroom.Click for more!

Progress-oriented feedback, offered in a timely way, encourages learners to persist through challenges, according to Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset.Try it! Offer verbal or written feedback that focuses on the process and the learning goal. Encourage students to also offer this kind of feedback to each other.Ask yourself:

• How have I offered specific, frequent feedback that is connected to the targeted learning goal?
• How will I use information gained from the feedback to adjust upcoming instructional materials and methods?

Frequesnt, Formative Feedback

Support Risk taking

Learners are motivated to push themselves beyond baseline expectations in an environment that supports engagement. Try it!When flexible options are available in the environment, learners can challenge themselves in new ways in order to achieve the learning objective. Ask yourself:

1. Are the expectations clear?
2. Do learners know what success looks like?
3. What options are available in the learning environment to encourage learners to push beyond the baseline expectations?

Authenticity, when relevant to the intended learning goal and the learners themselves, helps recruit learner interest towards achieving rigorous goals. Try it! Present the option for students to make their own personal connections to the learning goal. This can help content become more relevant and transferable.Ask yourself:

• Are the examples that I offer relevant to the targeted learning goal?
• Are there options for learners to include their own relevant examples that relate to the intended learning goal?

Authentic & Relevant

The Potential of Edtech with UDL

• Enhanced Engagement: Technology can captivate students and foster active participation in the learning process
• Personalized Learning: Adaptive technologies, enable personalized pathways and support for diverse learners without more lifts on teachers
• Equitable Opportunities: Thoughtful integration of technology can help create more inclusive and accessible learning environments
• Lifelong Skills: Developing digital literacy and critical, thinking skills, prepare students for future success

EngagementMultiple input methods (touch, voice, etc.), app variety, and interactive activities keep students active and in control of their learning. RepresentationBuilt-in accessibility features and multimedia integration ensure all students can access information. Differentiation through apps allows you to tailor learning to individual needs. Action & ExpressionStudents can ditch text and use drawings, voice recording, or even create multimedia projects. iPads are compatible with assistive tech, empowering diverse learners to showcase their understanding in unique ways. Need more? Click here!

In a UDL classroom, the goals are posted in specific, clear language. Once learners understand the goal, they can design their own path towards it from a “menu” of options.Try it! Lift the curtain! Involve leaners in the understanding (or even creation) of the goal to promote a context in which they can be genuinely engaged.Ask yourself:

• Is the intended learning goal clear and understandable for the learners?
• Are there options for learners to help create their own learning goals?

Clear & Specific Goals

Resistance to Change: Implementing UDL may require changes to traditional teaching practices, curriculum design, and assessment methods, which can sometimes face resistance from educators or institutions.

Focusing on Disabilities Only: UDL is not solely about accommodating students with disabilities; it benefits all learners by addressing diverse learning styles, preferences, and backgrounds.

Action & Expression

Strategies for "How"

• Choice is power: Provide students with various ways to demonstrate learning (projects, presentations, writing, videos).
• Go beyond the pen: Offer tools for different strengths (digital tools, manipulatives, role-playing).
• Unlock self-expression: Allow students to showcase their understanding in ways that resonate with them.

In an environment designed to support engagement, there are options available that are relevant to the task.Try it! Resources may include technology, but do not need to be limited to technology. Revisit materials that may be tucked away in the closet. You may be able to use them in a new way, and they may be just what you need to enhance your learning environment.Ask yourself:

• Do the resources available provide options to achieve the learning goal?
• How have I provided purposeful options that support the learning goal?

Resources & Supports for Task Demands

To consider...Does the tool allow users to demonstrate understanding beyond just text-based answers (open-ended questions, drawing tools, voice recording)?Can information be presented in various formats like text, audio,and visuals to cater to different modalities?

To consider... Where might there be a barrier to students achieving the goal? What is one tool, resource, or strategy I can include?How can I make this strategy available to all students from the start of the lesson?

Lack of Ongoing Assessment: UDL implementation requires continuous monitoring and adjustment based on learners' progress and feedback. Failing to assess and refine the approach can compromise its effectiveness.

Reflection on how different resources and strategies helped a learner achieve the intended goal can build an understanding of his/her individual strengths and challenges.Try it! Offer an exit ticket that asks learners which strategies they used to achieve the learning goals. Include a question about their engagement in the learning process.Ask yourself:

1. How have I offered the option for my learners to reflect on the tools and strategies they used to achieve the learning goals?
2. Are there opportunities for to reflect on the learners’ engagement as they strive towards the goal?

Reflection Time

Quizizz is a UDL-friendly assessment tool! It keeps students engaged with game-based quizzes, offers accessibility features like read-aloud options, and allows for multiple response formats (text, image) beyond just multiple choice. This caters to diverse learning styles, ensures understanding for all learners, and provides students with various ways to showcase their knowledge.

Offering options for how learners can demonstrate what they know encourages creative mastery of high level learning goals.Try it! Try Kahoot, Blooket, or QuizizzAsk yourself:

• Is my assessment flexible, providing multiple options for learners to showcase their knowledge?
• Does my assessment demonstrate the actual knowledge of my learners?

Flexible Assessments

Engagement

• Create collaborative boards with students, use polls, embed multimedia elements, or brainstorm ideas visually and choose how they want to represent it

• Integrate multimedia elements like images, audio recordings, and videos, catering to visual and auditory learners and offer text-to-speech options or create visual summaries alongside text.

• Padlet allows students to showcase their understanding through open-ended questions, drawing tools, or voice recordings.
• Use Padlet for collaborative projects where students can contribute in different ways, fostering communication and teamwork skills.

Examples & Non-Examples

Engage deeper thinking: By analyzing both examples and non-examples, students are encouraged to think critically about the defining characteristics of a concept and how they are applied in different situations

Model examples help make expectations clear so that learners know where to focus their efforts. Try it! Provide an example and a non-example for an assignment, and highlight the key components that achieve the learning goal. Ask yourself: How have I highlighted the essential components of the learning event? How have I made the expectations clear?

Why?

Google Workspace for Education champions UDL in 3 ways:Engaging & ExpressiveInteractive tools, collaboration features, and accessibility options keep students active and ensure everyone can participate. Strong RepresentationDiverse media, differentiation options, and accessibility features make learning inclusive and cater to various learning styles. Action & Expression Beyond TextStudents can showcase their understanding through multimedia presentations, drawings, voice recordings, and open-ended responses.

Increasing Collaboration

Fostering collaboration can generate new ideas, consolidate understanding, generate ideas for building relevancy, and offer the opportunity for active processing. Try it! Strategies can include brief moments to turn-and-talk or more deliberate opportunities for debate and structured discussion. Ask yourself:

• How have I offered options for collaboration and community?
• Are the options to collaborate supportive of the intended learning goal?

Microsoft tools support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) through features that cater to engagement, representation, and action & expression. For engagement, features like Immersive Reader with text-to-speech and picture dictionaries can increase student interest and focus. Representation is addressed by offering options like dyslexia-friendly fonts, adjustable text size, and color themes. Finally, action & expression is supported through dictation tools and various input methods, giving students multiple ways to demonstrate their understanding. These features are available across Microsoft applications like Word, OneNote, and Teams, making them valuable for educators creating UDL-aligned learning environments. Click for more!

Unclear instructions: Unclear instructions clash with UDL's goal of removing barriers. They confuse students and limit access to content, especially for those needing extra support. UDL emphasizes clear instructions alongside multiple representations and pathways to ensure all students can engage and succeed.

One-Size-Fits-All Approach: UDL emphasizes flexibility and customization based on individual needs. Applying the same set of accommodations or strategies for all learners defeats the purpose of UDL.

Kahoot! aligns perfectly with UDL principles. The fast-paced gameplay and competition naturally motivate students (Engagement). Visuals, audio options, and diverse question formats cater to different learning styles (Representation). Finally, students answer on their own devices, allowing for multiple ways to demonstrate understanding (Action & Expression). Play your way or their way!Want some more? Click here?

What engages one learner may distract another. This is why options are so important; with options, learners can remove themselves from distracting situations and put themselves in a situation more engaging to them, which helps them move closer to the learning goal.Try it! Offer options within the learning environment for different noise level preferences. For instance, there may be the option to use headphones or listen to soft music.Ask yourself:

• How are there options to minimize or reduce distractions in the learning environment?
• How are the options offered aligned to the learning goal?

Minimize Distractions

Chromebooks are UDL champions! Engagement:Variety of web apps (games, simulations) and customization options (text size, screen readers) keep students active and in control. Representation: Built-in accessibility features (screen readers, text-to-speech) and UDL-friendly extensions (dyslexia fonts) ensure all learners can access information.Action & Expression:Multiple response formats (drawing, voice recording) and compatibility with assistive tech empower students to showcase their understanding in various ways. Plus, Chromebooks with their web apps, accessibility features, and online resources can create a UDL-friendly classroom that keeps students engaged and learning.Click here for more!

Overcomplicating Instruction: Overcomplicating instruction with many different options, causing confusion later on what went wrongMore in the link!

Representation

Strategies for "What"

• Variety is key: Present information in multiple formats (text, audio, video, images) to cater to different learning preferences.
• Ditch the one-size-fits-all: Give students choices in how they show their understanding
• Accessibility matters: Include assistive technologies like screen readers and captions
• Beyond words: Use graphic organizers, simulations, and manipulatives to enhance understanding.

Engagement & ExpressionSeesaw offers a variety of tools for students to demonstrate understanding beyond traditional text. They can use drawings, voice recordings, videos, and multimedia presentations, catering to diverse learning styles and fostering creativity.RepresentationEducators can create differentiated activities and provide alternative ways to access information. Seesaw integrates multimedia elements, offers text-to-speech options, and allows for annotations and recordings alongside text, making learning accessible to all. Universal Design for Learning Built-InSeesaw itself is designed with UDL principles in mind. It features accessibility tools, allows for student choice in projects, and offers flexible response formats, creating a more inclusive learning environment for all students. Want more? Click here!

To consider... Can users access information in multiple ways? Can users personalize their learning experience?Can users demonstrate their understanding in different ways?

Engagement

Strategies for "Why"

• Chunk learning: Break down complex topics into short, engaging bits (videos, quizzes).
• Personalize: Tailor content and activities to user interests using recommendations.
• Gamify: Make interactions fun with points, badges, and challenges.
• Socialize: Foster interaction and community through forums, chats, or collaboration tools.

Explain Everything rocks UDL! It keeps students engaged with an interactive whiteboard and multimedia options. Students can personalize how they explain concepts (drawings, videos, etc.), making learning more engaging. Plus, it allows for differentiated materials and varied response formats (illustrated explanations, video tutorials) ensuring all learners can understand and showcase their knowledge creatively.Need more on gamification with whiteboarding?Check this out!

To consider... Are the tasks interactive and engaging?Do the tasks connect learning to the real world?Do the tasks encourage creative outputs?

Kami provides options for students to engage with material (e.g., audiobooks, podcasts), represent information (e.g., text-to-speech, highlighting), and demonstrate understanding (e.g., drawing tools, note-taking). This removes barriers for students with different learning styles and abilities, fostering a more inclusive classroom that ultimately improves learning outcomes for everyone. Allow students as many or as few of their tools as they will need to be successful, enable multimodal commenting, and ease motor skills with easy drag-and-drop feature.More here!

Beyond the Textbook: Create UDL-aligned learning experiences with Book Creator.EngagementMix images, audio, videos with text, plus interactive elements to keep students active. Students can even personalize their creations!ExpressionBuilt-in accessibility features (text-to-speech, dyslexia fonts) and multiple languages ensure all learners can access information. Action & ExpressionStudents can ditch text and use drawings, voice recording, or multimedia elements. Open-ended projects and collaboration features promote creativity and teamwork.Check out this Book on UDL!

Overlooking Expert Learners: While UDL is often associated with supporting struggling learners, it is equally important to provide appropriate challenges and engagement for expert or advanced learners.