Universal Design for Learning & my GAME Plan

When originally exploring NETS-T indicators to learn about and develop for my students, I chose 1.c - promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes; and 4.a - advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.

Some of the steps I have taken to reach my goal of becoming more knowledgeable and sharing my knowledge with my students have been to review the video lessons from the class, to read the assigned text and to reach beyond these elements and to explore some of the additional readings and sites on our course supplemental recommended materials lists. I felt I learned a lot about UDL from the CAST.ORG website and their links to videos from UDL advocates, and wested.org, which provided a wealth of ideas for enhancing current academic material through multimedia and digital technology.

After reading Chapter 6 and learning more about UDL, I have decided to add one more indicator to my game plan that is from Standard 2. c - customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

One particular activity that I have undertaken, has been the introduction of keyboarding skills utilizing our classroom computers for many of my special needs students with lower cognitive abilities. I think it will reinforce language and reading skills and will help some of them develop their fine motor skills.

I am now searching for some good web based typing tutorial programs that very low level and emergent readers may be successful with.