We value and believe in learning for all. Through the school development framework, we strive for better. Cultivating a culture of learning, we continuously reflect, learn and put into action what we believe to be best for all learners. Engaging our learners, immersing them in meaningful, relevant, purposeful learning that develops the 6 C's - the competencies that help all to be good at learning, good at life.
Committed to student engagement and learning for all, and in the acknowledgement that our provincial curriculum is rigid, five frameworks have been identified to help make learning inclusive for ALL. Within these five frameworks, Universal Design for Learning becomes the foundation, the starting place for equity and inclusion. Universal Design for Learning (UDL), combined with the other frameworks, will ensure ALL learners are engaged in their learning and will meet their potential. To truly get to this place, we have to make UDL a priority as it is the first layer, the most important layer to achieve 'learning for all'.
Taken from The UDL Gears by Dr. Loui Lord Nelson
Universal Design for Learning provides a framework that guides our work. This framework becomes the work, a way of seeing what needs to be done and how to do it. It is a set of beliefs, practices, skills and guidelines that enables one to understand that 'learning for all' means we have to acknowledge variability, identify barriers in learning and proactively and intentionally plan or create conditions for learning where these barriers are removed. This is a mindset. When we start believing that all can become expert learners, we realize the magic of this framework. We see that learners are not deficit, but the conditions or the environment around them is. When we put our beliefs (mindset), skills and practices to work, combined with the guidance from the UDL guidelines, we begin to create optimal learning environements that are inclusive and equitable where 'learning for all' truly exists.
We are in the business of education. We are in the business of learning. If we want to develop a culture of learning, we must model it. Michael Fullan captures it best as he states "Modeling is crucial in developing a learning culture." Our vision and mission, the values we stand by demands 'Learning for All". We must mean ALL. Not a few, not some, but ALL. Universal Design for Learning is a framework that can enable and make this vision a reality. As leaders, we must model what this means. We must lead through the lens of UDL. We must lead through the lens of acknowledging variability in learning, both in our learners and on our teams, we must seek out to find the barriers that impede learning and proactively create learning conditions where these barriers are removed. To model this learning culture we need to be reflective, strive for better and keep on learning. Until then, we can not expect others to do something we are not prepared to do ourselves or support it. Here you will find a presentation that will interrupt your thinking, challenge you and hopefully, help you be 'better'.
Katie Novak and Mike Woodlock explore and share strategies for putting the inclusive principles of UDL into effect today. Whether discussing MTSS or hiring the right teachers, they deliver proven tips and tools to help you become a better leader, manager, and educator.
Katie Novak delivers a keynote session exploring the WHY of UDL.
A quick snap shot into why we need to model UDL in our leadership.