Designing Instruction for All Learners: Practical Teaching Strategies and Powerful Lesson Design

Are you ready for a professional learning experience that provides practical strategies you can immediately apply to your planning and instruction? Join us for this one day workshop where we will explore the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and practice applying those principles to an upcoming unit or series of lesson plans. We will also investigate 8 research-based Powerful Teaching Strategies that have been proven to have a direct impact on student learning (based on the research of Robert Marzano and John Hattie). In order to maximize the learning experience of this interactive workshop, participants will need to bring an upcoming unit or a series of lesson plans.

Advances in neuroscience and learning theory support the idea that there is no such thing as an “average” learner, yet lessons are often designed with these illusory students in mind and then later scaffolded to meet the needs of those at the edges of learning. Universal Design for Learning offers a research-based framework for unit and lesson design by recognizing and removing predictable barriers to learning from the start. Using the UDL framework supports teaching and learning by honoring the jagged learning profiles of students within our classrooms. It empowers teachers to design standards-based learning experiences which seek to increase student engagement by providing a guided choice of how they interact with the content and what they produce which captures their learning.

After learning more about the UDL framework and exploring the 8 Powerful Teaching Strategies, you will have an opportunity to reflect on your own practice and rethink an upcoming unit or lesson with colleagues and members of the Pathways to Inclusive Education team.

This workshop is hosted by the Office of Learning at The American Community School of Abu Dhabi. We are pleased to welcome you to our school, the city of Abu Dhabi, and the country of the UAE.

This workshop will be facilitated by Kim Bane and Jason Hicks.