Designing Lessons and Activities with all Students in Mind: 

INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES

Dr. Tammy J. GrahamThe CitadelPresentation to STEM AmbassadorsMarch 7, 2015

Significant Statistics

According to the Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs, 36th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, in 2012, 61.5% of students with disabilities, age 6 to 21, were educated in the general education classroom for 80% or more of the school day.

Common Disability Categories in General Education Classrooms

Learning Disabilities: normal IQs but discrepancy between ability and achievement (largest special education category)

Other Health Impairment: especially AD/HD

Speech/Language Impairments

Other Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

Autism

Emotional Disturbance

Sensory Impairments (Visual and/or Hearing)

Traumatic Brain Injury

Orthopedic Impairments

Many Students with Disabilities Have Difficulties With

Learning

Time management and organization

Self confidence and advocacy

Concentration

Motivation

Consider Utilizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

“a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that:

(A) provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and

(B) reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and  challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient.”

(http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udldefined)

UDL Further Explained

Similar to Universal Design in Architecture, which indicates that buildings should be designed with every person in mind, including those with disabilities, Universal Design for Learning indicates that lessons should be designed with every student in mind, including those with disabilities.

An example of Universal Design in Architecture is an entrance ramp that may be helpful for people who utilize wheelchairs as well as for parents who have children in strollers.

An example of Universal Design for Learning is utilizing certain font styles, sizes, and colors in a PowerPoint presentation that will make viewing it easier for students, including those with low vision.

Three Principles of UDL

Principle I: Provide Multiple Means of Representation Utilize a variety of ways to present information

Principle II: Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression

Offer a variety ways for students to demonstrate what they are learning/have learned

Principle III: Provide Multiple Means of Engagement Motivate learners with choices and various levels of

challenge

(http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/3principles)

Curriculum Barriers Finder

Identify and analyze barriers to instruction in your classroom

Although the CAST website has changed, the following website from Canisius College has a template for the Curriculum Barriers Finder, as well as well as examples of how to utilize it.

https://sites.google.com/site/udlcanisius/cast-learning-tools/curriculum-barriers-finder

Ideas for UDL Principle 1: Multiple Means of Representation (Teacher)

Review Key concepts Vocabulary Symbols Idioms

Incorporate Graphs KWL Charts Demonstrations Real Life Scenarios Small Group Discussions Interactive Notes Videos and Movies Simulation Activities Exit Slips

Ideas for UDL Principle 2: Multiple Means of Action & Expression (Student)

Utilize Role playing techniques Debates Jigsaw and other cooperative learning activities

(group incentive and individual accountability) Incorporate

Problem solving techniques Traveling activities Games

Allow Options for responding (example: keyboard vs.

pen)

Ideas for UDL Principle 2: Multiple Means of Action & Expression (Student)

Allow students to Draw/paint a picture Build a model Write/sing a song or rap Act out a skit Author a book Make a presentation utilizing PP, Prezi, etc. Create a comic strip: Pixton allows students

to make comics; however, it charges a fee. Develop a WebQuest

Ideas for UDL Principle 3: Multiple Means of Engagement (Student)

Utilize interest inventories

Provide choice of assignments

Make assignments increasingly more complex

Allow students to revise mistakes and resubmit projects when possible (mastery approach)

Incorporate project-based assignments

Online Resources to Support Universal Design for Learning

Note: Most of the resources on the following slides are free or have free trials; however, please read the agreements to ensure that they are free.

Resources Supporting Universal Design for Learning

Resource for Project Based Learning Project Based Learning Checklist

(Create checklists for students completing project based learning (an alternative to traditional rubrics)

http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/checklist.shtml Resource for Multiple Means of Representation

Exploratree Pre-made interactive thinking guides http://www.exploratree.org.uk/

Explania Animated explanations to help explain topics http://www.explania.com/en

Online Resources to Support Universal Design for Learning

Math Resources to support those who struggle with mechanical issues:

FunctionVisualizer (Graph/plot equations online)

http://www.abhortsoft.hu/functionvisualizer/functionvisualizer.html

Graphing Calculator

http://fooplot.com/#W3sidHlwZSI6MCwiZXEiOiJ4XjIiLCJjb2xvciI6IiMwMDAwMDAifSx7InR5cGUiOjEwMDB9XQ

Graph Paper

http://www.printfreegraphpaper.com/

Talking Calculator

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Big-Simple-Talking-Calculator-Download-120088.html

Online Resources to Support Universal Design for Learning

Virtual Math Manipulative Resources

Geoboard

http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/web-apps/geoboard/

National Library of Virtual Math Manipulatives

http://nlvm.usu.edu/

Online Resources to Support Universal Design for Learning

Resources to help with math understanding

Math Dictionary http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/dictionary.html

K-7 Mathcasts Project http://math247.pbworks.com/w/page/20517538/K-7%20Mathcasts

%20500%20Project

AAA Math http://aaamath.com/

The Math Forum http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

WebMath http://webmath.com/

Wolfram Alpha http://www.wolframalpha.com/

Online Resources to Support Universal Design for Learning

Science Resources

CAST Science Writer (Uses scaffolding to help students write a science lab report)

http://sciencewriter.cast.org/welcome

PhET Interactive Simulations

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/chemistry

Discovery Education 9-12 Science

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/search/page/9-12/science/-/-/index.cfm?campaign=flyout_teachers_912_science

Lawrence Hall of Science 24/7 Science (Science experiments, activities, and games)

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/

FYI…Time Management & Organization: Practical Strategies

Use plastic “baggies” to keep needed supplies

Make check lists for activities (get out pencil, write name on paper, write due date on paper, read directions); check off each step after completion

Have clear routines for placing papers, objects, etc.

Use color coded 3-ring binders for each subject, with new work kept on one side and completed work kept on the opposite side

Use visual schedules kept inside notebooks or on desks

Make daily to do lists with estimates of how long each task will take; check off each task as it is completed

List due dates on each assignment page

References

Heward, W. L. (2013). Exceptional children: An introduction to special education (10h ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Disabilities Association of America www.ldanatl.org/

LD Online www.ldonline.org/

Lenrer, J. & Johns, B. (2009). Learning disabilities and related mild disabilities: Characteristics, teaching strategies, and new directions (11th edition). Boton: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs, 36th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2014, Washington, D.C. 2014.

http://udlonline.cast.org/home

http://udlonline.cast.org/guidelines

http://www.udlcenter.org/

http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udldefined

http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/3principles

http://www.universaldesign.com/about-universal-design.html