How can Busy Things support the principle of Engagement in UDL?
' the why of learning'
How can Busy Things support the principle of Engagement in UDL?
' the why of learning'
Allow learners to connect with the material personally and appreciate the learners’ whole selves.
Make learning relevant to students' lives and optimize value and authenticity
Offer participation choices and addressing biases, threats, and distractions
Provide collaboration opportunities, interdependence, and collective learning
keeping students motivated and curious, nurture joy and play
Offering choices
Allow students to choose from various activities related to a topic (e.g., writing a story, creating a poster, building a model). In BusyThings many examples exist of how students can interact with different templates related to a topic.
Support learning with labeling, painting, creating a factsheet, creative writing, and making a worksheet, all linked to the curriculum.
You can search for specific activity types in curriculum areas via the search tool.
Spark and sustaining students' interest in learning and tackling challenges with focus and determination.
How can I engage all learners in my class?
In what ways do I give them choice and autonomy
How do I make learning relevant to their needs and wants?
In what ways is my classroom accepting and supportive of all learners and cultivates a space where learners are wanted and where they want to be?
Foster belonging and community
Offering action-oriented feedback
Personal connections
Encourage students to connect the lesson to their lives and experiences. Within subjects such as PSHE, Citizenship, and Science (animals including humans) investigate lives and experiences.
Building relationships
Foster a supportive and inclusive classroom climate where students feel safe to take risks. All activities include differing pupils' needs, as the teacher can set a different activity level so pupils can either reinforce a particular skill or work through levels systematically.
Positive reinforcement
Activities in Busy Things, especially the mathematics ones, have celebratory spoken conclusions and visual reinforcement.
Many of the activities are open-ended, with no right or wrong, encouraging children to experiment and explore
Harness the power of emotions and motivation in learning.
Emphasize the goal and why it matters.
Set high expectations using flexible tools and supports.
Offer action-oriented feedback
Promote individual and collective reflection
Goal setting
Help students set achievable learning goals and track their progress. In interactive activities, pupils can work through, self-check, and mark progress. Each activity for Pupils with individual logins is recorded in their timeline. Pupils with their login can also be sent work specifically customised for their learning style and needs. Teachers can export evidence from there.
Time management
Classroom tools, including a countdown timer, have been added to the platform. Some activities have a time limit that can be added or removed according to the pupil's needs.
Are you ready to integrate BusyThings into your classroom? For guidance on migrating your BusyThings login from USO to Microsoft or Google, click here for support.
BusyThings is not just a resource; it’s a dynamic platform that opens up a world of interactive learning opportunities. By embracing these tools and UDL principles, you can create an inclusive and inspiring classroom environment where every student has the chance to succeed and thrive. Let’s empower our learners to explore, create, and express themselves fully!