Universal Design for Learning

 Universal Design for Learning

UDL is a framework for creating differentiated instruction to a diverse class of learners.  The goal is to remove any barriers to learning and in return increase student success.  It consists of three things.  

1. Representation:  it is important to provide different ways to present information.

2. Action and Expression:  allow students to show the information they learned in different ways.

3. Engagement: offer options that engage students and keep their interest.  

As an educator, I feel that while I try to do each of these things, there is always room for growth and improvement.  My classroom is diverse with many different learning styles, academic performances, EL students, and cultural backgrounds.  Therefore I do try to represent the information they are learning in different ways.  I use read/think alouds a lot.  I also try to use visuals and pre teach vocabulary.  My district does a lot of training with this, so I do feel this area is where I am strongest. I feel that I could use more improvement under action and expression.  One area that I am working on is goal setting.  I want students to take ownership of their learning by setting their goals based on the needs.  I would also like to improve in allowing for multiple ways that students can express what they have learned, specifically in multimedia. 

The area that I would like to grow in is action and expression.   Each student is different and has different motivations for learning.  I would like to implement more technology and educate myself further in education technology.  Some resources I collected are: 

Improved Lesson Planning for Universal Design for Learning

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.820.7698&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Implementing Technology in the Classroom: Paths to Success and Failure

https://www.learntechlib.org/p/144083/

9 Unique Ways to Add Technology in the Classroom

https://www.goguardian.com/blog/9-unique-ways-to-use-technology-in-the-classroom

As an educator, it is important to implement UDL into the curriculum.  It can be a challenge with the increasingly diverse population.  UDL can provide us with those strategies to meet the needs of each individual student to increase student achievement. 

Final Reflection

 

Podcasts

Podcasts in the Library

Podcasts can be an effective tool to use in both the classroom and the library, and they are great for all ages.  One example of using podcasts in the classroom include transforming student presentations to verbal presentations through the use of a podcast.  Students can also produce interviews to present to peers.  They can also be used as a reflection tool for student learning.  

The library can stay current with today's technology by implementing podcasts.  They can be used to promote the library, especially book promotion.  Podcasts are a great way to produce book talks, provide storytelling,  or to premier your library newsletter.  They can also be used for book reviews and reading incentive programs.  Students can also use podcasts in the library.  They can produce a podcast to share research to others, conduct interviews, share creative writing, and to have book readings.  

Podcasts are a great way to improve student engagement and creativity.  They allow for students to develop public speaking and communication skills.  They also allow students to work on the time management skills and marketing skills while promoting their podcasts to others.  Podcasts are a great way for students to use problem solving skills when using computational thinking.  They are an excellent way for students to show mastery of their learning and to help them become more successful.  

Types of Podcasts

SoundCloud- is a resource for podcasts where users can upload their podcasts for free.  However there are some limitations for the free version.  For me, I didn't find this as user friendly as others, which is why I did not choose to use it for my podcast.

Audioboom - this is another resource for podcasting, however this one is not free.  It costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year.  There is also a limit of only five podcasts per month.  Because of the cost, I did not choose to use this one for podcasting. 

Podbean - this one is my favorite so far.  As a beginner to podcasts, I found it easy to use when creating and sharing my podcast.  There is a free option, however you will have access to a lot more tools with a subscription.  Because of its easy use, I chose to use this resource when creating my podcast.

Click below to read my podcast, along with Jennifer and Diana!

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-q5zqq-112e51b

Cartoons and Comics

 My students love to both read and write graphic novels.  These resources are something I would absolutely use in the classroom.  I was able to explore three different comic makers, and they all were a little different, but each was unique when creating a graphic novel.

Fotojet:

Fotojet is a free collage maker and graphic designer.  I enjoyed using Fotojet.  I was super simple to use and to share.  I like how it uploads right into your google drive.  Fotojet allows you to upload real photographs from the web, so you can customize your comic even more.  Fotojet is student friendly and allows for students to use critical thinking skills, which is something students need.  This one was probably my favorite of the three.  

Pixton:

Pixton is a great tool for turning students into comic creators.  It allows students to unleash their creativity while making fun, high-quality personalized comics.  Pixton is free to use, however, many templates require a paid subscription.  I felt limited on what I could choose from using the free version.  Still, there are a lot of tools that students can easily use to create and share their comics.  You can sign in right through your google drive and it is easy to share with others.  This is one I would try out in the classroom! 

Make Beliefs Comix:

Make Beliefs Comix is also a fun and engaging way for students to turn their storytelling into a comic.  Students can choose from characters, backgrounds, objects, dialogue boxes, and much more.  It seemed fairly simple to use.  However, I felt that the images provided was limited.  I also found it more difficult to share.  From my experience, in order to share, I had to share it to a social media site or through email.  I prefered how the other comic makers went straight into your google drive.  Therefore, this one was my least favorite to use.  

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

The Unquiet Library

 https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos 

Helpful:          Video Tutorial How to Embed a Prezi Presentation in Wikispaces
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P9vSSiEHLo

Enjoyable:     The Importance of Choice for Igniting Student Passion and                                                                  Learning Through Research Projects
                          https://youtu.be/OZUTsyfY8m4

Pikesville HS Library

https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

Helpful:  2014-15 Course Advisement  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3MuhcD2y_c

            

Enjoyable:   Hip Hop Day @ The Panthers Library 

                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3iihdaYAf0

BBMS Media

https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos

Helpful:  Online Career Resources  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ9CxZfOFGw

Enjoyable:  Twilight Overdue  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05UVqAe5l_w

Animoto

Book trailers are great ideas to get students engaged in their books.  They provide an opportunity for critical thinking while allowing them to express themselves creatively.  Animoto is a great resource for students to use when making book trailers.  

For my book trailer, I chose one of my favorite books, The One and Only Ivan.  Ivan is an easygoing gorilla that lives at the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  He becomes accustomed to humans by watching them through the glass walls of his domain.  

Ivan loves to watch TV shows and to be with his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog.  Ivan also loves to express himself through art.  

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from his family, and she makes Ivan see their home - and his art - through new eyes.  When Stella dies, Ivan makes a promise to her to help find freedom for Ruby.  When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it is up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.  

You can find my book trailer here:  

QR codes are another great tool for the classroom.  They provide students and easy way to access more resources related to a subject.  They can contain text, links, and much more.  QR codes are safe to use and promote independence for students.  There are so many ways to implement QR codes in education.

• read louds
• websites for research
• direction for an assignment
• pathfinders
• book trailers
• scavenger hunts
• checking and reflecting on answers
• videos
• early finisher projects

These are just some examples of ways to use QR codes!!

Screencasts

Screencasting is a way to record a video of your computer screen.  It is a great tool to record lessons, presentations, and tutorials.  You can use your webcam to customize your video.  They are easy to make and can be easily shared. 

Loom was my favorite to use.  I felt that it was the most user-friendly.  It is free and you can create an account through your google drive.  I love this because it will put your videos into your drive making it even easier to share.  All you have to do is download the extension and you are able to begin your videos.  Loom has some amazing features.  You are able to record videos or your screen, webcam, or both.  Once you record your video, you can edit the size by cutting out parts you don't need.  There are also drawing tools and emoji tools.  With the free account, there is a five minute limit, however, with an educator account you can record videos up to thirty-five minutes long.  As I was learning about this and recording my practice video, I was planning out all of the different ways that I could use this screencast in the classroom.  I can't wait to explore even more and practice using the features.

https://www.loom.com/share/b764fabb59104bd7ad6341ee7002ccc9

Screencastify is another way to create videos using your screen and webcam.  Like Loom, you can sign in through your Google Drive and use the extension to begin recording.  It is free as long as your videos are under five minutes.  Screencastify also offers excellent features.  You are able to trim your videos and easily share them.  It also has a new feature called Interactive Questions.  This allows you to engage and assess students by adding questions during your video.  Students are able to get immediate feedback.  There is also an Analytics feature that allows you to view student engagement by listing everyone who has watched the video.  It will also tell you the number of views your video has had.

https://watch.screencastify.com/v/NNxRC0lYDV4lQHcjoyE1

Infographics

An infographic is a way to design a striking, engaging visual to communicate information clearly.  It is a graphic visual representation of information and data.  You are able to create charts, online reports, and interactive maps.  

Infogram

This is a great resource to use when designing and sharing infographics.  It allows you to have the power to visualize and share data in only minutes.  It seems fairly easy to use and includes features such as charts, graphs, and maps.  The site offers a variety of templates to choose from or the opportunity to customize your own from a blank template.  It also allows you to add users for collaboration.  

https://infogram.com/app/#/library

Easelly

Another resource for creating infographics is Easeilly.  Its mission is to allow anyone to present information in a visual and appealing way.  On this site you have the option to start from a blank template or a template already created.  I liked how this site had an option for teachers, businesses, and students.  It even has a downloadable book full of student activities.  Easelly also allows you to create or join a group to collaborate with others.  

https://www.easel.ly/

Piktochart

Piktochart is a site that allows its users to create infographics.  This is the one I chose to use.  I felt that this one was the most user friendly.  I was able to pick a template that matched the information I wanted to present.  From there, it was easy to edit it and input my data.  This site allows you to add charts, maps, and pictures.  I was also able to customize the background, use the graphics library, and add designs.  This site also allows you to add users for collaboration and is easy to share with others.  

https://create.piktochart.com/teams/25796121/dashboard

For my infographic, I chose to research about the rise of teen depression, especially in girls.  Having daughters of my own, I felt that it is important information for people to read.  By using the infographic, it allows me to get the reader's attention to present critical information in a creative and appealing way.  I can’t wait to make more or even try them in my classroom with my students.

https://create.piktochart.com/output/56231545-depression-in-teens

Source of Article:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/12/a-growing-number-of-american-teenagers-particularly-girls-are-facing-depression/