Charmaine Futch

Technology & YOUDL Assignment

I have decided to pick Option #3 and I will create a 5-7 minute podcast audio recording for my
YOUDL assignment. This is an outline of what my Podcast will include and the order that the
information will be given.

Outline

Introduction
• The role that technology plays in students lives now.
• Technology plays a huge role in students lives. Technology is used everyday, starting
from the beginning to the end. Students use technology to receive transportation to
get to school. Some students will travel on a school bus, others might get dropped off
by parents in a car and some might walk to school using a pedestrian crossing button.
Once students enter the classroom they may use a paper and pencil to copy things
down from the chalk or smart board. Some students might use their own device on
wireless networks to complete their work or collaborate with classmates. Students
can have access to digital textbooks. With technology they will have access to infor-
mation and use this tool to research. They have taken Map and Parcc tests online.
Teachers are being encouraged to integrate technology into the classroom to reach all
learning styles.

• The role that technology might play in their future.

• Technology will begin to play an even bigger role in these students lives once they
get older. It is important for students to use technology now, to prepare them for their
future careers. They will be required to use voice or video recordings for projects or
class assignments. As they get older they will also begin to socialize with their peers
more using computers and mobile devices. They may even connect with others that
they may not know using technology. Or stay connected with friends, once they grad-
uate and go their separate ways.

What is UDL?
• Overview of UDL and its purpose.
 • UDL stands for Universal Design for Learning. UDL is a framework that is based on
research using neuroscience. This is a guide for teachers to encourage flexible learn-
ing environments that accommodates all of the diverse learners in the classroom.
Teachers must get to know their students and their learning differences to see what
each student needs. The purpose of this framework is to encourage teachers to utilize
all 3 brain networks into their lesson plan. The affective network is located in the
center of the brain and is the why of learning. It focuses on engagement and motiva-
tion. The recognition network located in the back of the brain and is the what of
learning. It provides students with various ways of gathering information and demon-
strate what they know. The strategic network is located in the front of the brain and is
the how of learning. It focuses on students learning skills and how they organize the
information. The ultimate goal is to make connections between all three networks in
each lesson so that the students can practice using all 3 parts of their brain.

UDL + Technology
• Explain how UDL connects with technology. How technology can enhance student
learning.
• UDL can have a great connection with technology and enhance student learning. But
it is important that you find the right technology to serve the purpose. Technology
has built in support to help learners that have different needs. There are many assis-
tive technologies that can be used to accommodate students by helping them with
their learning needs.
• Ways to include technology into UDL related instruction. Show examples of the rela-
tionship between UDL and technology.
• There are many ways to include technology into UDL related instruction.
• Some tactile students who may need images that are designed by touch rather than
looks. They might need tactile graphics to help them understand information.
• Online graphic organizers can be used to help students scaffold or organize infor-
mation. This technology will support visual learners. They can print the organizers to
use as a guide or share their organizer with their peers.
• Text-to-speech is another assistive technology tool that can be used on many differ-
ent devices. It can accommodate students with reading issues. It allows students to
see text and hear it read aloud at the same time. It helps these students improve word
recognition. It can also help students focus on comprehension when they have diffi-
culties with sounding out words.
• Wiki is a website that allows teachers create projects and assign them to their stu-
dents. They can also collaborate with their students and keep track on what they are
doing. They can use content from anywhere on the web, provide feedback to their
 students and review their work. You can have your students work independently or in
groups.

Classroom Activities
• Explain how UDL can be implemented without technology based resources. Explore
examples of UDL classroom activities with no technology.
• Although we have explored many ways that UDL connects with technology, UDL
can be implemented into your classroom activities without using technology. There
are assistive tools that will help learners needs that may not require any technology in
the classroom. When providing multiple means of representation for your students
you may use hands on manipulative to represent what you are teaching. These mate-
rials can be objects or visuals which will accommodate your visual and tactile learn-
ers. When teaching a first grade math lesson about making combinations of 10. You
might include manipulative such as different colored connecting cubes or counters to
help students see a visual representation of the different combinations.
• Explore examples of UDL classroom activities with low technology.
• It is also possible to have a UDL classroom activities with only a small amount of
technology included. You can teach a kindergarten class about letter sounds and you
may include a representation by having them hear how the letters are pronounced
from a CD or video and then have the students identify the correct letters that match
the sound that they heard.
• Explore examples of UDL classroom activities with high technology.
• When incorporating a lot of technology into UDL activities you may include a web-
site for multiple means of action and Expression by having students use worksheet-
place.com to have students organize and set learning goals for themselves. You might
also have your students create a video presentation using music and images on ani-
mato.com , samanimation.com or icreatetoeducate.com If you have students with print
disabilities you may have them use Aim Navigator. It includes braille, audio and
large print. Readability allows students to customize the display of information.
These are all technology tools that can be used along with your classroom activities.

Conclusion
• Review the meaning of UDL and its purpose.
• UDL is a framework that encourages great teachers to become expert teachers and
great students to become expert learners. This will be an adjustment for teachers that
 are not used to following UDL guidelines but you must understand that it will not al-
ways work as planned. There will be trials and errors but it is very important that as
an educator to give yourself time to properly plan these lessons. When using this
framework it may require more time to plan and you need to use this time in order to
make sure that you are accommodating all of the diverse learners that are in your
classroom. Always remember that there is more than one way of doing things and al-
lowing your students to have choice according to the type of learner that they are will
help your students succeed.
http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-Reasons-Today-s-Students-NEED-Technology-in-the-
Classroom