Creating an Effective Tier 1 with Universal Design for Learning
Definition
The provision of instruction and learning opportunities through the core general curriculum in an equitable fashion to all students in such a way that outside factors that categorize students (e.g. sub-groups) are irrelevant (adapted from a definition of Social Justice).
All district and school staff are trained in meeting the needs of a diverse student population. All instructional tiers should be designed in such a way that the instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments
address the needs of all students with flexible approaches that can be quickly customized for individual needs. The design of Tier 1 instruction should be based on understandings of
universal instruction and universal education to ensure engagement for all students.
Contributing factors to SWD performance gaps
Students with disabilities must be able to participate and be
fully engaged in Tier 1 instruction before appropriate decisions on supplemental and intensive instruction can be made. These other tiers of instruction (Tier 2 and Tier 3) are always aligned with what is happening in Tier 1. If there are barriers to engagement in Tier 1 then these same barriers will be present in Tier 2 and Tier 3, resulting in performance gaps.
Universal Education - Moving from "teaching to the middle" to "learning for all."
Online Videos
Videos that demonstrate that there is
no such thing as an "average" student. All students have very different learning skills and vary in areas such as:
- Memory
- Language
- Background Knowledge
- Reading Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Curiosity
- Task Persistence
- Interest
- Culture
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Online Modules
Personalization -
Tailoring instruction to meet the needs, skills, and interests of each student while
promoting student ownership of achievement.
- Personalized Learning: A Working Definition - http://bit.ly/2EnngAz
- Competency-based education
- Flexible learning environments
- Personal learning paths
- Learner profiles
- Seven trends that are shaping personalization - https://www.educationdive.com/news/these-7-trends-are-shaping-personalized-learning/434575/
- Personalized learning platforms
- Alternative classroom design
- Redesigning the teacher role
- Competency-based education
- Project-based learning
- Universal Design for Learning
- Personalized learning plans
- NCLD State Landscape - Personalization - http://www.ncld.org/personalized-learning/state-landscape
- Establish an inclusive vision for personalized learning efforts from the beginning of design and planning.
- Ensure sufficient resources to provide accommodations and supports to help students with disabilities fully participate in personalized learning efforts.
- Train general and special educators to implement personalized learning inclusively.
- Use comprehensive accountability and support systems to ensure access to and rigor of quality learning experiences for all students.
- Invest in pilot programs that test strategies around personalized learning, and ensure that pilot programs have a means to learn and disseminate learning around implementation opportunities and challenges for students with disabilities.
- Communicate with and engage families from program initiation to implementation of personalized learning efforts.
- Personalized Learning for All - personalized learning.pdf
- Personalization v Differentiation v Individualization - personalizationHandout.pdf
Student Tools
- Math Tools for Students - http://www.at-udl.com/tools/math/
- An example of a support for personalization and student ownership of learning. Students have access to tools to help them address barriers to learning.
Resources
ICEL & UDL Online Resource -
http://icel.businesscatalyst.com/index.html
- An online resource that focuses on ways to address flexibility and increase academic effectiveness in:
- Instruction
- Curriculum
- Environment
- Learner Supports
Handouts
ICEL UDL Handout -
http://www.tlc-mtss.com/assets/icel-udl-crosswalk.pdf
UDL Classroom
Look Fors Begining Level -
http://www.tlc-mtss.com/assets/udl-look-fors-beginning.pdf
UDL Classroom
Look Fors Expert Level -
http://www.tlc-mtss.com/assets/udl-look-fors-expert-learner.pdf
Personalized Learning Handout -
http://bit.ly/2D9mxU5
Survey Tool for Rating Educational Materials -
rating-table-resources-survey.pdf
Survey Tool for Rating District-wide Curriculum Supports -
curriculum-self-assessment-tool.pdf
Example action step
- Collecting Data - Have teachers complete the "Survey Tool for Rating Educational Materials" above on the instructional materials and resources available for students in their classrooms.
- Follow-up - Develop a school/district team to provide guidelines on purchasing educational materials that are designed to support learning for all students.
- Collecting Data - Have school and district leaders complete the "Curriculum Self-Assessment Tool" above to analyze the curriculum and instructional support documents available to all teachers.
- Follow-up - Develop a district team to create a plan to ensure that comprehensive curriculum documents are available to all teachers that support learning for all students.
- Collecting Data - Use the UDL Look Fors above to identify options being provided to students in the classrooms.
- Follow-up - Provide professional development on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Use the ICEL & UDL website above to problem solve changes in the instruction, curriculum, environment, and learner support.
