Brain Research

How it works…

Freeze. Okay, now. Who’s

the brains of the outfit?

Different parts of the brain do different things. The back of the brain is responsible for pattern recognition. From experience, and access to other parts of the brain which store information, the pattern of a gun is recognized.

Gun

FYI: The pattern recognition portion of the brain reacts to signals from your senses and accesses your memory for cues and clues.

Brain Research

How it works…

Freeze. Okay, now. Who’s

the brains of the outfit?

The front of the brain is responsible for strategic planning.

Gun Hide

Money

From experience, and access to other parts of the brain which store information, the plan is formulated… …and acted on. FYI: The strategic planning portion of the brain produces signals which control your motor actions.

Brain Research

How it works…

Freeze. Okay, now. Who’s

the brains of the outfit?

The core of the brain is responsible for emotions, or the affective response.

Gun Hide

Money

From experience, and access to other parts of the brain which store information, the emotional response is felt…

OhDear!

…perhaps fear. FYI: The affective portion of the brain produces signals that can affect the other parts of your brain, and your body.

Brain Research

The three brain networks(1)Recognition (of patterns)

(2)Strategic (planning and response)

(3)Affective (emotional response)

Provide multiple representations

FYI: It has been shown that teaching to each part of the brain enhances the learning experience.

FYI: Each network responds to its own learning style…

Provide multiple means of expression

Provide multiple means of engagement

Highlight critical features

Provide flexible models of skilled performance

Offer choices of content and tools

Provide multiple media and formats

Provide opportunities to practice with supports

Provide adjustable levels of challenge

Support background knowledge

Provide multiple media and formats

Offer a choice of awards

Offer flexible opportunities for demonstrating skills

Offer choices of learning context

Universal Design for Learning

What is it?Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is based on research.

It is a framework for designing more inclusive curriculum to reach a more diverse school population.

It enables all individuals to gain knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for learning.

FYI: In a nutshell, UDL Provides multiple means of:Representation (perception / language / comprehension)Action and Expression (physical action / expressive skills / executive functions)Engagement (fostering interest / sustaining effort / self-direction )

UDL subscribes to the tenet that learning is best when all three brain networks are engaged in the process.

Universal Design for Learning

How does UDL help you?The framework of UDL helps you design curriculum for your diverse student population by…

Presenting content in multiple ways.

Differentiating the ways students can demonstrate what they know.

Stimulating interest and motivation in your kids.

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Universal Design for Learning

UDL and the LAW!No Child Left Behind clearly states that all students have a right to a high quality standards-based curriculum.

This includes students with different learning styles.This includes students with disabilities.This includes those troublesome rascals who know how to yank your chain.

IT’S THE LAW

Universal Design for Learning

Disabled curriculum!UDL operates under the tenet that the traditional curriculum is rigid and inflexible.

One size fits all just doesn’t work in our schools.”Retrofits” alleviate the problem, but at great time and learning expense.The right way to design curriculum is to consider the diverse range of kids at the beginning of the design process.

GOALSMETHODSMATERIALS

The goal

assessmentassessmentassessmentmethodsmethods methods

materials materialsmaterials

ASSESSMENTS

Something for everyone!Even kids who “get it” will benefit from the diversification process.

Universal Design for Learning

Holy Toledo. I have 165 kids!No problemo, my friend. Technology is here to assist!For ELLs, eReader™ is the way to go: It reads text, and highlights the words as they are read.

“Drunken children tell the ugliest lies.”

For different learning styles the WWW is a great resource for pictures, movies, and sounds.

And if your students are easily distracted by the Internet, have them try eTrekker™, which will filter out the frills and promote focus.

Universal Design for Learning

Any other sites for me to view?Oh yes. Web 2.0 has plenty of locations that will give you ideas…Download the web page to your computer and use it as a Web 2.0 navigator for useful sites.If you open it using MSWord you can save it as a word document and edit it by adding your favorite links. Then resave it as a Web Page.