Created by: Melissa Stevenson, Tracy Tossi and Olivia Okonowski
Welcome!
Our online resource was created to help English Language Arts teachers of grades 5-8. Many of these resources could be effectively utilized in other grade levels as well. This site was created to help educators become familiar with various tools to aid in English Language Arts teaching.
The website is divided into writing tools, reading tools, graphic organizers, special modifications, collaboration tools and research tools. Our goal is to teach educators about Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning in order to increase the use of these tools in the general education setting, helping students of all achievement levels.
Our online resource was created to help English Language Arts teachers of grades 5-8. Many of these resources could be effectively utilized in other grade levels as well. This site was created to help educators become familiar with various tools to aid in English Language Arts teaching.
The website is divided into writing tools, reading tools, graphic organizers, special modifications, collaboration tools and research tools. Our goal is to teach educators about Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning in order to increase the use of these tools in the general education setting, helping students of all achievement levels.
(12/11/12) Retrieved from: http://www.touch-hapsys.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Educational-Computer-Games-For-Kids-300x200.jpg
(12/8/11). Retrieved from: http://udlspotlight.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/kidstechnology.jpg?w=225&h=169 |
In order for teachers to implement UDL and AT in the classroom, it is crucial for teachers to have a solid foundation of the various tools and technologies that can help the students reach their full potential.
Assistive technology "is any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase maintain, or improve functional capabilities of people with disabilities" (Class Notes, 2011). Universal design for learning "provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond of demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient."(Federal Definition: Higher Education Act of 2008) "One of the underlying premises of the UDL model is that teachers should plan instructional supports during the beginning of lesson planning, instead of modifying materials as an afterthought. It may save teachers an extensive amount of time by creating modified lesson plans rather than changing them after the fact," (Spooner, Baker, Ahlgrim, Browder, 2007, p. 115). Another one of our goals is to give educators a site they can utilize to help in lesson planning to benefit all learners in the classroom. |
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In order to learn more about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) check out this video which defines the UDL, and UDL principles.
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In order to learn more about assistive technology (AT) check out this video above which defines AT and provides examples of AT.
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