Understood holds this weekly Twitter chat that aims to keep the momentum going and raise awareness of learning and attention issues. Follow along with hashtag #LDCHAT and follow users @understoodchats & @understoodorg. Experts will be available to answer your questions and concerns and share resources from Understood.org.
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Welcome to today's #LDchat! This is Dan with the Understood team. We're joined today by Understood founding partner @CAST_UDL to discuss Universal Design for Learning! #UDL
Edie, academic therapist in Washington, DC. Building an international tribe of teachers and parents of teens and young adults with ADHD. My former world is UDL is in classrooms with more than 30 students. #ldchat
Hello again, #LDchat. We offer technical assistance and professional development to schools, primarily in Connecticut, including in areas related to students with disabilities.
A1: #UDL is an instructional design framework that leverages learner variability in any learning environment. By designing for variability, we maintain rigorous goals for all, and consider flexible pathways to attaining those goals. https://t.co/fTaDpjIN4i#LDchat
Margaret, saying hello from Ireland. Inclusive & special education teacher currently working in area of curriculum design. Always ❤️ when chat times & Irish times sync 😊#LDchat
A1: #UDL is a framework that proactively removes barriers to learning for ALL. It takes into account that learners are as unique as their fingerprints, and learning is designed to optimize access. #LDChat
UDL asks teachers to remove learning barriers for ALL Ss by providing the strategies and accommodations that would normally been provided by spec. ed. Ts. But, instead UDL says, "make those things available for ALL Ss"
#ldchat
A1) It's universal, so the same tools and practices can be used for anyone in the classroom. It's a means to the same content rather than a modification. #LDchat
A1: Designing with the #UDL framework can not only increase access to grade-level curriculum but can also support all learners to engage in challenging learning opportunities. #LDchat
A1. For me it’s the flexibility it affords teachers & students to choose tasks & activity that suit the student; active engagement nit sittibg st desk read in& writing #LDchat
A1: Characteristics of the one in five students with learning and attention issues are part of the remarkable variability among and within us all. There's no average learner. Why design for one? #LDchat
A1 The #UDL framework provides the thought tools needed for #teachers and #educators to consider the needs and potential barriers all learners might have/face. #ldchat
A2: The principles of #UDL look different depending on the learning environment and learning goals. Context matters! Providing multiple means of engagement = designing for diversity in terms of interests, attention, and emotion. #LDchat
There is not one means of engagement that is optimal for all learners in all contexts, so providing multiple options is key. #UDL#LDchathttps://t.co/Jpx4uMFjwF
A2. UDL is tough in the upper grades. With more than 30 students in each class, it's easy to miss students with special needs. I use technology to level the playing field. Apps that help organization are great tools. Try @GoogleKeep@evernote and @Pocket#LDchat
In reply to
@UnderstoodOrg, @GoogleKeep, @evernote, @Pocket
Q2: In order to "provide multiple means of engagement", the teacher must have a lot of scaffolding in their classroom. Through scaffolding, all students are able to learn in different ways. #ldchat
A2. I think that providing multiple means of engagement can look different in every class It could be group work, demonstrations, or having the students try experiments. I think what engagement is in the classroom will depend on the students you have and their interests #ldchat
A2: Engagement is KEY for Ss with LD and ADH/D. My fav. asks Ts to "minimize threats and distractions" in the classroom- this could look like limiting transitions, providing Ss with things like noise-cancelling headhpones and explicitly teaching coping strategies. #ldchat
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A2: Agree! SO important to minimize threats and distractions in the classroom. Making learning meaningful (“the why” ) and connecting to experiences, relevancy is important. So is making learning a fun, joyous experience. #LDChat
A2: Engagement is KEY for Ss with LD and ADH/D. My fav. asks Ts to "minimize threats and distractions" in the classroom- this could look like limiting transitions, providing Ss with things like noise-cancelling headhpones and explicitly teaching coping strategies. #ldchat
That's why #UDL is so important in the design phase of instruction, Edie. Predictable variability exists, even with teen and adult learners. Using the UDL Guidelines to plan for that variability can minimize the need to adapt on-the-fly. #LDchat
In reply to
@edielovesmath, @UnderstoodOrg, @GoogleKeep, @evernote, @Pocket
Providing multiple means of engagement may be harder to do in secondary classrooms. This is due to the fact that classes are larger and every single class is different. Group work seems to be the go to since students are able to help each other when having difficulty. #LDchat
A3. Multiple means of representation looks like having a combination of words, symbols or pictures, and movements to help your students understand what you are teaching #ldchat
A3: One way to provide multiple means of representation is to use flexible content that doesn't rely on one sense only for understanding (e.g. hearing or sight). #LDchat
A3: Many Ss with LD, ADH/D, and other print disabilities tend to prefer visual representations in addition to textual representations. Also, it's super important to make sure Ss have the necessary background info before presenting new info. #ldchat
A3: Providing multiple means of representation in a classroom looks like having more than one way to explain things in the classroom. An example could be tracking behavior on a wall, or having it on thier desk. #ldchat
A3. My math students with LD/ADHD loved multiple presentation alternatives. Try artistic interpretation (music, painting and good ol' pen and paper (drawing). My favorite is having a poetry jam. #LDchat
A3. Intentional flexibility that's built into lessons - visual presentation & audio, flipped classrooms, practical/hands on examples. It's a bit of extra work in the beginning but worth it & becomes the norm #LDchat
Interesting. The #UDL Guidelines overlap in lots of ways (as the networks of the learning brain do). Representing information in multiple ways might include more than one sense (e.g. sight or hearing) or more than one modality (an artist rendering and a text description). #LDchat
Right? We can't assume they know these things, then give them detention when they don't use the things we never taught them!!!! It's crazy! This applies to K-12 AND higher ed! #udlhe#ldchat#udlchat
A3) If writing is an issue, that needn't be the student's (or any student's) goal of what they need to learn how to do. Instead, the goal may be to compose, analyze, or synthesize, and there are multiple means (technology among them) to do that. #UDL#LDchat
A4: Intentional design of experiences that allow learners to show what they know in the way that best makes sense for them. One size and method of assessment does not fit all. #LDChat
Sure! Look to the #UDL Guidelines to plan for predictable learner variability. Also, start small. Bite off one piece of UDL at a time. You don’t have to do everything at once. #LDchat
In reply to
@edielovesmath, @UnderstoodOrg, @GoogleKeep, @evernote, @Pocket
A4: Multiple means of action and expression means not expecting every child to show their knowledge on a written test. There should be a variety of assessments so students have to opportunity to express what they know #ldchat
A3) If writing is an issue, that needn't be the student's (or any student's) goal of what they need to learn how to do. Instead, the goal may be to compose, analyze, or synthesize, and there are multiple means (technology among them) to do that. #UDL#LDchat
I taught Ss with LD and ADH/D and these were some of the most creative and innovative thinkers I've ever seen. When we limit their options of act. & exp. to reading, writing and public speaking, we are automatically invalidating some of their greatest strengths! #udlchat#ldchat
A4: I'm connected to what we're learning, I've happily taken advantage of the different learning tools in the environment, and I am SO excited to choose which way I'm gonna show off what I know!! #LDChat#UDL
A4: I'm connected to what we're learning, I've happily taken advantage of the different learning tools in the environment, and I am SO excited to choose which way I'm gonna show off what I know!! #LDChat#UDL
