Remote teaching and learning might appear to be a bumpy road-but it doesn’t have to be! UDL rockstars, start your engines! With UDL as a design roadmap, we can create environments that are accessible, engaging, and supportive of learner variability. In this session, we’ll examine ways to use the UDL guidelines to design virtual (and hybrid) learning environments, as well as design tips that are transferable to in-person environment design. We’ll explore strategies, tips, and exemplars to boost student engagement in virtual or hybrid environments, improve the accessibility of online content, and optimize choice in digital spaces. By the end of the session, participants will have concrete strategies for creating universally designed virtual environments to capture, boost, and sustain student engagement.

Goals:

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

• Evaluate my virtual learning environment
• Identify best practices for universally designed digital environments
• Practice using tech tools to boost engagement, foster collaboration, reflection
• Plan to use 3+ strategies or tools to support learner engagement

Build Background and Reflect

Consider the following questions. Collect your responses on a document – written or typed. 

• Consider your digital learning environment. What tools or options are provided to get learners excited, motivated to learn?
• What resources are provided to help learners understand content?
• What tools or options are provided for learners to show what they know?
• Are there high tech, low tech, no tech options available?

Session Video Recording

Session Resource:

• Slide Deck

Apply Your Learning

• Share your ideas from the session on our group idea board (Padlet)
• Reflect upon the learning environment you used in our introduction activity. Consider 2 strategies or tools from this session you could apply to further implement UDL in that learning environment moving forward. 
• Additional reading and resources:
  • 6 UDL Practices for Online Learning
  • Creating an Inclusive Virtual Classroom
  • Fresh BCSC Tech (UDL + edTech Blog)

The CAPMSE design team worked collaboratively to build a K-8 math and science lesson repository. The design team vetted lessons based on the Universal Design for Learning framework. The intention of the repository was to have ready-to-use k-8 math and science lessons that were accessible in a distance learning environment, a digital environment, and/or an in-person classroom setting. 

Analyzing lessons and recognizing barriers, the need for UDL was critical to optimize learning for all students, especially in the mist of the pandemic. Utilizing the UDL framework, lessons were redesigned and became the skeletal frame to guide the learning in the lessons. 

Session Video Recording
Slide Deck
California Partnership for Math and Science Education Framework
Infographic
CAMPSE Math and Science Repository

Teachers and practitioners who are involved in the ongoing “emergency” remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are being faced with common barriers as they navigate the online learning “landscape”. This session will provide a map of four of the biggest issues facing online instruction. Concrete solutions for each of these issues utilizing Universal Design for Learning will be brainstormed with the session participants.

Session Video Recording
Padlet
Page of Everything
Slide Deck

When life necessitated remote learning, most teachers reported missing their classroom spaces – not the walls and windows, but the norms, routines, and ways of working they had established with their students. In the physical classroom, learners count on anchor charts, executive function supports, tools and technology options. They count on built-in self-regulation options, comprehension checks and peer and teacher feedback. These “predictable options” for learning in the physical classroom support learner agency. With creativity and innovation, this year required teachers across the country to “translate” the best parts of their in-person learning designs to distance learning designs. This session invites us to reflect together on what we, as a field, have learned. We will use a UDL Learning Environment Inventory Reflection & Planning tool to document and share what we have learned and make notes for our future learning designs (no matter the context). The best part of this informal conversational session will be hearing the reflections of our colleagues. 

Session Video Recording
Interactive Notes Document

Reflect on barriers for eLearning specific to learning environments and then learn about multiple UDL aligned resources, professional development, and reflection opportunities that have been created to support teachers as they intentionally implement the UDL framework during extended eLearning. Reflect, share, and plan for ways to utilize the resources in your own settings.

Session Video Recording
Slide Deck
Resources
Interactive Notes Document

Reflect on barriers for eLearning specific to learning environments and then learn about multiple UDL aligned resources, professional development, and reflection opportunities that have been created to support teachers as they intentionally implement the UDL framework during extended eLearning. Reflect, share, and plan for ways to utilize the resources in your own settings.

Session Video Recording
Slide Deck
Resources
Interactive Notes Document

This presentation provides teachers with practical ideas and strategies for engaging students remotely and taking these strategies back to the classroom. 

Session Video Recording
Slide Deck
Smore Board
Interactive Notes Document

Presenters
Janet Peters from CITES at CAST & Alise Crossland from AIR

Audience
All educators and families, technology leaders (InfoTech, EdTech and Assistive Tech)

Level of Expertise
All levels

Description

The COVID-19 emergency school building closures have highlighted the importance of technology planning and contingency planning.  For districts around the country, the “impossible” had to quickly become “possible”. The rapid shift to remote teaching and learning exposed areas of significant need in schools and districts, such as access to technology and addressing the needs of students with disabilities. In the context of these challenges, building a strong and inclusive technology ecosystem that incorporates assistive technology, educational technology, and information technology is more critical than ever. In this webinar, leaders at the Center for Inclusive Technology and Education Systems (CITES) will discuss identifying the challenges uncovered by the shift to emergency remote learning, and how school systems can use best practices in technology planning to convert the discovery of challenges into an opportunity to develop innovative solutions.

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides (PowerPoint)

Digital Handout (PDF)

Presenters
Janet Peters and Joy Zabala, CITES

Guest Panelists
Janice Carson, Director, Idaho Assistive Technology Project (IATP)
Susan Hardin, Assistive Technology Consultant and UDL Coordinator, Macomb ISD 
Angela Lindig, Executive Director, Idaho Parents Unlimited

Audience
All educators and families, technology leaders (InfoTech, EdTech and Assistive Tech)

Level of Expertise
All levels

Description

In this webinar, CITES leaders host a conversation with CITES advisors and colleagues in-the-trenches to take a closer look at Coordination. We will discuss services that may be available through school and community organizations. The session will provide examples of services that enable students and families to participate and achieve while learning at a distance. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides (PowerPoint)

Digital Handout (PDF)

Presenters
Janet Peters & Joy Zabala, CITES, with Chris Bugaj (Loudoun County, Virginia), Dr. Drew Hinds (Silver Falls, Oregon), and Jessica McKay (Ysleta ISD, Texas)

In this webinar, CITES leaders host a conversation with CITES advisors in-the-trenches to take a closer look at Communication and Collaboration–two of the essential elements for working together to support students and their families during the COVID-19 crisis. The discussion will include examples of how communication and collaboration are helping to ensure that students with disabilities and their families have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from learning opportunities using technology and other strategies. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

Youtube Video View