Early Childhood Special Education and Assistive Technology Blog

By: Ryan Keefe , EC-SEAT Scholar What is UDL? Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that provides ALL students equal opportunities to learn. UDL encourages teachers to design flexible curricula that meet the diverse needs of all learners. Using UDL principles in general education classrooms makes curriculum and instruction accessible and engaging.  Curriculum barriers are reduced; Learning is supported; Students gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning; and  Students learning is validly assessed.  Visit http://udlguidelines.cast.org/ to learn more! Benefits to UDL Students come to the classroom with a variety of needs, skills, talents, interests and experiences. For many learners, typical curricula are littered with barriers and roadblocks, while offering little support. UDL encourages the design of flexible, supportive curricula that are responsive to individual student variability.  UDL improves educational outcomes fo...

By: Ryan Keefe , EC-SEAT Scholar The multitude of uses around Khan Academy for teachers and students is phenomenal. Technology is prevalent in our classrooms, and while students in the earlier grades are beginning to learn how to work and use technology, the Khan Academy is fairly easy to use, and a great way to help introduce technology to students in various ways. A wonderful thing about the website as well is the ability for a teacher to tailor the lessons they want teach their students. And allow for developmentally appropriate assignments to be given. It also grants teachers the ability to gather the data to properly assess their students which aligns with the Erickson Institute 's idea that a primary purpose of gathering data is to find the answers to things we do not know. As teachers we must find ways of assessing and understanding our students capabilities, and their ability to learn. With data collection like what the Khan Academy grants, it is simple for teachers to a...