Week 4

This week we were exploring assistive technology and universal design for learning.

I really enjoyed the UDL principles. I feel like that is something I would want a poster of to keep in my workspace. The principles resonated with me as something that I unconsciously strove for in my teaching, but now I can give a voice to it and name what I was trying to do. Multiple means of representation, engagement, and action/expression…on the surface it sounds like differentiated instruction, but I am interested in doing more research to see if they are similar ideas or not.

I’m also curious to see how these principles play into adult learning. I don’t know much about adult learners besides their motivation to learn comes from a very different place than young learners, but I feel like using these principles will be useful. And if anything, the UDL principles spark creativity in my mind when I’m thinking about how I could potentially formulate a lesson or activity. That has to count for something useful, right??

Assistive technology is something that I had no prior knowledge about. It was never part of my personal or professional reality. I was at a private school where special education wasn’t at play in our classrooms. Overwhelmingly, the most common IEPs I saw were for students who needed longer when taking tests. But besides that, there was no conversation about how to help that student. We had no specialized position to deal with AT or accommodations, it was guidance counselors doing their best. I am sure that many of our students would have benefited from AT, however. I really related to the discussion of teamwork and communication in the IRIS module. I would’ve appreciated having group meetings about students who needed accommodations, so we all could’ve been on the same page. I’m sure it would’ve given me more guidance as to how to actually help that student, to learn what was actually in my power and responsibility to do. And in turn it would’ve given the student a better experience because we all would’ve been more supported and knowledgeable about the situation.

I think what I’m taking away from this week is that this is a whole, rich field unto itself. And it needs to be paid attention to, and incorporated more smoothly into our classrooms. Like anything, it’s work and difficult at first. But if you are supported and have a good team with you, it’s not impossible.