Universal Design for Learning
Provides Learning Opportunities for ALL
If we design lessons for the outliers in our classrooms, it helps to set ALL learners up for success. We have some students that have photographic memories and may learn some or all content in 0-3 repetitions. We also have students that must "sing it, dance it, move it, and/or grove it" needing multiple repetitions to retain new concepts.
How can we provide an optimal learning environment for ALL of the learners in ALL of our classrooms? 3 important layers can support us in finding an answer to this complex question of how to advance learning for ALL.
How can we provide an optimal learning environment for ALL of the learners in ALL of our classrooms? 3 important layers can support us in finding an answer to this complex question of how to advance learning for ALL.
- The flexible Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework.
2. Understanding the district's 3 tier pyramid of interventions. It is important to know what supports are available in each tier and how to access additional tier 2 and 3 supports if needed.
3. The classroom educator's expertise and insight of how to add, remove, or keep scaffolding in place to help ALL students share their knowledge with others and keep learning, growing, and moving forward.
So what is scaffolding anyway? Scaffolding is the support given during the learning process which is tailored to the needs of the student so that he/she can achieve his/her learning goals. As students begin to understand their own unique strengths and challenges, they then can become autonomous in their ability to engage in and share their own learning inquiries with others.