As an educator, I am very familiar with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. I tired to employ UDL techniques during the 10 years I spent in classroom and am trying to implement them in the online courses for adults that I oversee the development of (and frankly struggling due to the nature of the asynchronous, independent and open-ended timeframe).
In our EME 6414 course, I feel like the activities and assignments are based on this kind of framework, whether intentional or not. The curriculum provides something (within the objectives) for every learner. That's because of the various methods that are provided for students to participate and discuss what we are learning and to the choices involved in the creation of assessment tasks. I was also happy to find that my classmates' Produsage projects (many of which are lessons) mostly contain elements of UDL. The 3 elements, or guidelines are, as outlined by CAST, the Center for Applied Special Technology:
Allowing students the amount of choice we have for completing assignments is a great example of the action and expression guideline. Although there are certain parameters for the assignments (there have to be) based on the goals and objectives, the way that students are able to achieve those goals by selecting their own topics and tools is very allows for a variety of ways for them to express what they have learned. As mentioned in the video above, "students need to gain knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for learning and a curriculum needs to help them do all 3." It goes on to ask how the curriculum can challenge and engage but still meet the need of the myriad of diverse learners. That's where UDL comes in. For a fabulous resource describing the UDL Guidelines in more depth and specific checkpoints in each one, please visit the National Center on Universal Design for Learning. You'll also find specific examples, evidence and related scholarly research.
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About this blogA simple exploration of Web 2.0 and social media and their applications to education; an attempt to learn how prosumers are shaping the internet and how educators can capitalize on it. ArchivesAbout MeNature grrl; loves dogs, books, traveling, clouds, technology, thrifting, break beats and good beer. |