Universal Design for Learning

 

    Universal Design for learning includes 3 different aspects which are providing multiple means of Engagement, Representation, and Action and Expression. These represent the Why, What, and How of learning. These guidelines can help both teachers and librarians as they figure out how to create the best possible educational experience for students and helping the students create a framework for becoming lifelong learners. The end goal of UDL is to create learners who are purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal directed. There are many steps in the process to help create those end results for our students. 

    As I look through the principles and guidelines I can see that there are some areas that I am doing a pretty good job in as a classroom teacher which I know will need to continue as I move into a librarian role. I do a good job on providing various means of expression and communication as my activities vary widely throughout the year and allow students to use videos, skits, poster boards, oral storytelling, and various means of writing to show that they understand the information that is being presented to them. My students do well with comprehension as well when it comes to reading but an area that I could become better at is helping them develop their thoughts in writing as many do well with oral storytelling but struggle when it comes to putting it down in writing. 

    I can see myself adding more physical action and movement into my teaching so that students have the ability to get themselves out of their desks and move around the room. I know that I use hands for voting and the thumbs up/down method for whole group activities but having the students go to a different corner if they agree or even just standing up and sitting down would also be an easy way to get more physical action into the teaching process. The areas that I can definitely use some help in teaching are self regulation and executive function. These skills are so important not just in school but in life and it seems that I don't do a very thorough job of helping students with organization and the ability to regulate themselves as I do most of the write ups and referrals for our grade level with kids being out of control. It was interesting reading about the self regulation piece because I have many strategies for motivating myself and I do a lot of self reflection but I don't really know how to teach those strategies right now. 

I found two websites that will help me with starting the process of incorporating UDL into my classroom and my teaching. The first is https://www.texthelp.com/resources/blog/7-ways-to-introduce-udl-into-your-classroom/. I will be looking at taking advantage of software supports as our district pays for many resources but we don't always have the ability or time in order to get to those programs as we don't receive a lot of training on how to properly utilize them. I also will add more digital materials and try and share content in a wide variety of ways as I go through my lessons in order to create more fun learning opportunities. The second website that I found interesting was  https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/assistive-technology/articles/5-examples-universal-design-learning-classroom. The two things that I took away from that is flexible work spaces which I can do with a bigger classroom this year as well as giving more regular feedback on student work. I do grade but I don't always leave personal feedback for all students so I'm looking forward to trying to implement one assignment with a high level of thoughtful and personal feedback per quarter.