Assistive Technologies

 Universal Design for Learning

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After discussing how different teaching Gen Z as a whole is last week, it is important to now think about each individual student and their unique learning needs.  This is where Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can offer what students really need to be successful learners.  Upon reading the article from The Understood Team, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I am using many UDL principles in my teaching already.  While I definitely don’t use these principles in every lesson every day, I especially try to incorporate this during science and social studies.  I have also found math lends itself to a UDL model.  Some of the UDL principles that I often use include flexible seating options, presenting material in different ways (text, slides, videos, pictures), and student choice in presenting information in final projects.  

UDL and Assistive Technology

One aspect of UDL that I can do better at is allowing all students access to accommodations that students with IEP’s and 504s have.  One way I realized I can do this is by looking at the assistive technology my students have access to on their Chromebooks.  While there are many Google Extensions that are available to any device, the Chromebooks have their own accessibility features.  I have created an infographic to highlight a few of these features.

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This infographic just scratches the surface of accessibility options available to students with Chromebooks, especially if you include Google Chrome Extensions like Co: Writer.  I think that while there are many options out there, it is important to determine what is appropriate and useful for each student in your class.

I appreciated taking the time to create this infographic.  This gave me the motivation I needed to explore my students' chromebooks.  When my district went one to one I was working with primary students that were given iPads.  I feel like I have not had the opportunity to explore and learn all the features of my current sixth graders devices.  It is useful to know what is available to our students and how to set them up for success!

References

Blog, I. T. S. (n.d.). Universal Design for Learning: Practical Suggestions - Carleton College. Carleton. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.carleton.edu/its/blog/universal-design-for-learning-practical-suggestions/ 

Free design tool: Presentations, video, social media | CANVA. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.canva.com/ 

Google. (n.d.). CO:writer Universal (app). Google. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cowriter-universal-app/lahlmdogjpblkonckkgbljegkiijjbag?hl=en 

Google. (n.d.). Google tools for special needs*. Google Docs. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J2Lve_Ta8t22UDFvAlG5mW8WLxXP0BIMwabWJk7FhI8/edit?usp=sharing 

Team, U. (2021, November 19). The difference between UDL and traditional education. Understood. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-universal-design-for-learning-udl-and-traditional-education 

UDLCAST. (2010, January 6). UDL at a glance. YouTube. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDvKnY0g6e4