EDLD 5364 Week 2 Reflection

Being in a classroom that has a combination of regular education, gifted and talented, and special education students brings a level of difficulty to planning lessons to where all students are taught, motivated, and enriched.  This is something that a teacher does daily but I didn’t realize that there was an organization that was reachable through the internet for help.  “CAST is a nonprofit research and development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning” as explained on www.cast.org.  Its Universal Design for Learning (UDL) helps teachers to set goals, materials, and assessments for different types of learners.  In the video, Principals of Universal Design for Learning, it explains the UDL gives teachers various ways of acquiring information and knowledge, optional ways to demonstrate what they know, and multiple means of engagement. 

I do not understand the UDL completely but it seems to make perfect sense.  The video, Brain Research, explains why it is important to differentiate for the different types of learners in each classroom. In this video it starts out explaining that every individual has their own DNA and fingerprints.   There is no difference when you compare the learning styles of our students.   Every person learns differently and at different rates.  It goes on to explain the different three brain networks.  The first one is the recognition network which is the what of learning.  It is here where we identify and categorize what we see, hear, and read.  The second one is the strategic network which is the how of learning.  It is hear where a person plans and performs math problems and writes an essay.   The third is the affective network which is the why of learning.  This is where a student would be challenged, excited and interested.

 I am hoping that learning this information will help me in the classroom.  I have become a member of CAST which allows me to utilize their tools and search for sample assignments that are UDL.  I look forward to learning and applying the new information that I have learned.

 

Cast.org. Transforming Education through Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved September 8, 2013, from http://www.cast.org/index.html

Lessonbuilder.cast.org (nd). Principles of Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved from http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/window.php?src=videos

Lessonbuilder.cast.org (nd). The Brain Research. Retrieved from  http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/window.php?src=videos