Universal+design+for+learning+resources

Universal Design for Learning

The whole idea of Universal Design for Learning is to remove barriers to learning. Traditional technologies (e.g., physical books) do not work for all children, including those who physically cannot handle a book, those who cannot see a book, and those who are not able to read a book due to learning disabilities or unfamiliarity with the language of the book. Currently there are a lot of creative people figuring out how to use software to allow people to communicate and to take in and manipulate information. Look at the links to the autism page for examples--such as what CERTEC in Sweden is doing. Yet in this area there remains a lot of uncovered territory. We are just beginning to figure out how to break down the barriers.

In order to do this, we need to defamiliarize the process of learning and the tools of learning. Instead of seeing a person as a problem, we need to figure out how to create lines of communication. To an extent, this is a mechanistic process. We have several channels of information processing: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, touch, taste, and smell. We have language in various formats (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, touch), we have images, we have music, we have drama, and we have movement. All these are possible ways of making meaning--and we can use these in combination with language to get a meaning across. We can also combine these channels--the visual with the auditory, the auditory with touch (e.g., reading aloud and Braille), the auditory with acting out an idea (drama), and so forth. This is, as Rob Tierney would say, our menu of possibilities.

We also have many software tools that are available on standard computers in order to create these means for learning. In other words, the ability to address many needs of students is already within reach, without the need to buy expensive technology. There are things that can help that do need to be bought (special mouse-type technology for people who have limited ability to physically control something), but much of what can be used is out there and available. We just have to consider each individual person's needs and what can help that student be involved with all activities in the classroom.

http://www.cast.org/ The people who coined the phrase "Universal Design for Learning."

http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/ This resource helps you to create UDL-based lessons.

http://bookbuilder.cast.org/ You can build UDL books for your students!!!

http://udleditions.cast.org/index.html Model books based on UDL design.

http://www.nectac.org/topics/atech/udl.asp More about UDL and also a lot of resources here.

http://www.certec.lth.se/doc/certecscore/ This link is to a research group in Sweden that is doing amazing things using technology to put people with disabilities in the position of being able to communicate and to make choices about their own lives. There are lots of resources in English and there are a lot of cognates between English and Swedish, so this site is definitely useful. What I really like about this site is that these folks are very respectful of people's abilities.

http://www.english.certec.lth.se/publications.asp These folks have been doing UDL for twenty years. This is a list of their publications that are in English. There are links to Swedish publications if you read Swedish

http://www.oatsoft.org/ This is a collection of open source software that has been created to meet specific needs. Sometimes this page loads slowly, so be patient.

http://www.edutopia.org/autism-handheld-technology Palm Pilots can be used to help students negotiate their day in school. These handheld computers have a lot of resources for social development (e.g., taking pictures of teachers and other students in order to learn their names).

http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/ This is one of the best sources for free software. These folks create this software as a hobby, so sometimes there are bugs or you have to do a couple of steps before you download the actual software--this is explained on the download page of each piece of software. How to use this in terms of universal design for learning? Look at audacity recording software. It allows you to record and then you can turn what you record into an mp3. Microphones for computers cost under $20, so this is a cheap way of creating customized mp3s. So you could record instructions for children or you could record instructions on top of some soft music (it allows tracks). If you have a dollar or two to spare and use this software, consider sending these folks a donation.

http://www.assiniboine.net/user/staff/albertsc/software_essentials-2.htm Free software for educators. It's the kind of thing to look through, try out, and then figure out how to use it to help students learn.

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