Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction

Initially I felt Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction meant that I would be sitting in front of my students trying to figure out over 170 plus individualized education plans. After the readings and numerous discussions, I came to realize it was more about what each of us has in us that triggers our intuition. In other words, what makes us want to learn, and how do we like to learn. Since some students like to read quietly, or they even prefer to take notes and debrief by having discussions, there is room for that in the classroom. However in order to diversify, and to reach a greater mass of students, I began to think that it would be best for my classroom to be broken into different stations of resource. Students could then participate in the different areas where they felt most comfortable. Since I have the luxury of having 30 laptops at my disposal, I can even have students take notes on their computers if they choose to do so.

My disposition as a teacher changes very little with regard to what I control, however the students gain a great deal of control as a result of what I have learned. By using platforms as Wikispaces, Glogs, Blogs, VoiceThread, Animoto, and numerous others, I now have the venue to create the technical learning environment that is also diverse. Much of the software that I plan to use can be manipulated to change font, colors, add media, and hyperlinks and can be as simple as cutting and pasting, or as complex as inserting code. Most of the software that is being used today is being simplified as most realize that the average individual isn’t the code writers that can design by writing lines of connected characters. Most individuals like to gain a sense of accomplishment and would like to have the software available that they can learn to use and for our students to enjoy manipulating for presentations, projects, or learning platforms.

Differentiated Instruction for me is a means to diversify my classroom. To use surveys to gain information on students and their learning styles, to assist in their personal development through different reading styles, either online or the old fashioned way, and to have them investigate in the manner they choose by selecting the different media sources that best fits their personal preference. Through accommodation and diversification of resources, I think my classroom is going to be a much more interesting learning environment. Without this course and the resources provided, I would not have seen me going in this direction, and it would be safe to say that although my students learn from my style, they will have more fun learning the way they like to learn. Once acclimated to the alteration, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it as well.