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Our Elevator Speeches - Please add your speech and your names for all to see!

Hey, Nikki.... what do you think about UDL? I'm a little unsure about what it all stands for. Can you explain it to me? Well Ginny, it is my understanding that UDL is not a one size fits all method of teaching. It challenges us to think about our students as individuals with unique strengths. How would you break that down? First, we have to break the content down in multiple ways. For example, in addition to presenting the information in written text, you can allow them to experience the content through other mediams such as videos, pod casts, or slide shows. The second step is expression. The learner can select from media formats to represent what they know and communicate it to others. For example, after reading a story, the students could email the author or go to the web site to expand on their knowledge. Lastly, when students are participating in the multiple means of representation which gets to the "what" they need to know and have various ways to express "how" they know it, it makes learning and classroom time more relevant to their lives. So, Nikki...let me see if I get this. Your saying that UDL means that teachers design lessons that are engaging and flexible from the start. The focus of a lesson is not to make students adapt to the teacher's idea of what is important, but to allow each individual child to build and create an understanding that is in line with his or her strengths.

==So //(insert random teacher name)// we are taking this great course called Universal Design for Learning right now and we absolutely love it! As you know, the challenges we face as teachers these days is that our classrooms are so diverse. In our district we have such a multicultural population, along with special needs, gifted and talented, and a unique combination of learning styles all within one classroom. UDL offers us the opportunity to appeal to the needs of each of these types of students, while motivating them through the use of technology. Our students are engaged, and differentiation is embedded within the units. The integration of technology has allowed for flexibility and a customized approach to address each learning style. It’s a mind shift from the traditional classroom model to students taking ownership of their own learning while the teacher acts as the facilitator. As educators, this has inspired us to embrace this generation of technologically savvy students and try to push beyond the multitude of barriers that exists within the field of education. ==

//-(Conversation overheard in an elevator with Jen Tuller, Carrie Sanchez, and a newly inspired teacher)//
Universal Design for Learning is a way to open assignments up to all learners to capitalize on their strengths. By providing students with a variety of ways to process information, teachers have a better way to understand if the students are grasping the concepts. Sometimes students know what you want them to know, but are not able to demonstrate it in one particular way. UDL offers them multiple ways to express their knowledge. For example, when trying to assess reading comprehension, teachers need to recognize that some kids will comprehend better when reading silently, while others read aloud, and still others need to listen to it orally. UDL offers many paths for students to actively achieve the goals of the curriculum.



UDL is a better way to address the needs of all students to reach curriculum goals presented through multiple representations, a variety of student expression and engaging students in ways that were never thought of previously. With the rapid evolution of technology, teachers have a plethora of modalities to address the needs of emergent learners. Flexibility becomes not only a nice feature of the classroom, it is now an essential part of student learning and immersion. For instance, when teaching a lesson in the past, old fashioned techniques no longer stimulate the senses of current digital natives. The digital age has outpaced the traditional classroom. Teachers now have to go out of their comfort zone to formulate engaging lesson plans that incorporate technology and a variety of ways to deliver content.