Culminating+Activity+III

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We are learning that teaching every student in the digital age requires the use of more technology. Universal Design for Learning has three main principles that allow learners to acquire information in various ways, provides more choices for demonstrating what they know, and motivates them to learn. Today our classrooms consist of multiple levels of learning modalities and we need to design our curriculum to accommodate these learning differences. Ways that we can implement UDL in the classroom could be to supply each student with their own laptop or ample number of computers readily available in each classroom. Another way to incorporate UDL would be to provide smart boards in each of the classrooms. These types of resources will allow the teachers to change their instructional approach and therefore allow students the opportunity to learn based on their strengths. This flexibility and diversity is essential in reaching the students in the new digital age. Kelly & Linda

Dear Principal, The 21st century is here and now and we need to adapt to the constant technological advances that our students are experiencing each day. In order to keep up with the Digital Natives and how technology is impacting their lives and in turn their learning experiences and methods, we need to respond to their needs in a proactive manner. Universal Design for Learning allows us more differentiated instruction across the school setting to meet the various needs of the students. It incorporates new technologies along with existing resources to allow for different learning styles. One of the main goals of school is to make learning fun, engaging and relevant. By using the technology that students have expressed interest in outside of school, we can advance their learning by incorporating these tools in the school. In this current day and age, for our students to keep up with, as well as build relations with students of other countries, digital media is proving to be a necessity. There are far more pros that outweigh any cons that may arise from resistant digital immigrants. Please consider our research based recommendation to implement UDL in our school. For further information, please follow the link below. We appreciate your time and consideration in this matter. [|www.kathie2udl.wikispaces.com] Janet and Shannon

Dear Mr. Belding,
== Lisa and I are taking a course to learn more about universal design for learning. In this course, we have learned that the students we teach today, are not the same type of student we were when we were their age. The biggest difference between then and now is the integration of various technologies. We are "Digital Immigrants" and they are "Digital Natives." There is not just one way to present or research information anymore. The students prefer a variety of different avenues to explore new information. They want relevant information presented in a fun, fast and active approach. Please understand that we will probably not be using textbooks or paper and pencils on a regular basis anymore. The students today are more comfortable and familiar with the digital age. We cannot expect our students to learn using the same methods we were taught. There are so many technological resources available to enhance our curriculum content, it would actually be a disservice to the students, if we were to exclude these resources when presenting lessons. We hope you can appreciate our efforts to provide our students with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in the ever-changing digital age. ==

Monica & Lisa
Dear Dr. SuchNsuch,

Our school mission statement describes us, as educators, preparing students for the future, however with the ever-changing society, today’s education is definitely behind the students’ learning curve. We need to adapt our teaching methods to accommodate learners for success in the 21st century. This includes the use of technology in a multitude of ways. The skills that we can impose on students will not just be useful for their success in school, but for their professional careers, and most importantly their everyday lives. As a school district we are at a crossroad in education. We can continue to teach using traditional tactics, or we can embrace a digital, interactive approach that connects with students in a way that they are used to learning. Public education has changed before to adjust to society, and now is more important than ever for our school district to move into the digital age, so we support the evolution of our students.

Sincerely Yours, Brad Mayberry and Steve Palladino

In this digital age students do not learn through the same mediums that previous generations utilized. In order for todays student to be successful we need to incorporate technology into every facet of our instruction. Teachers must have access to technology in order to provide multiple ways to present information. We must enable students to use technolgy to express themselves and their understanding of the material in mulitple ways. A standard paper and pencil test is no longer the only form of assessment. Our students are used to the fast pace of the digital age and it is important to use technology to keep them engaged. I highly recommend that you consider exploring the benefits of Universal Design for Learning and the allocation of resources required to implement these strategies. I would be happy to meet with you to share my experience with UDL.

Implementing Universally Designed Learning in the classroom is important for various reasons. One, today’s students are a different generation, a different breed; they are digital learners. Therefore, lessons in the classroom need to be presented by digital means. Two, UDL targets all natures of learners from a variety of backgrounds and with various disabilities. Thus, this provides all students equal opportunities to learn. This is the ultimate goal of education. Is it not? We as a district are desperately behind when it comes to the integration of technology in the classroom and curriculum. Lastly, our students may be learning more at home, using their own personal technologies, versus the amount of learning being accomplished in our antiquated system. UDL is imperative in the development of successful, life-long learners.

Universal Design offers a vast majority of technology resources that will actively engage all learners. Providing this type of instruction in the classroom will allow for Differentiated Instruction, therefore accommodate all learning styles of all students in our district. The advantages of Digital Technology are unlimited and will offer flexibility in our curriculum to meet state standards and assessments. Universal Design is not a one size fits all solution; rather it emphasizes alternatives to enrich our traditional approach to teaching. Our mission is to empower students in a changing world. It is imperative to address our student’s needs that will facilitate lifelong learners. Adele & Connie