Summer 2022
Instructor: Lucie deLaBruere
Final Grade: A
Course Description:
This course explores ways that educators can address the diverse strengths and needs of students in today’s classrooms by developing and utilizing a instructional framework based on current information and practice related to differentiating instruction and universal design for learning. A focus of the course will be the use of existing and emerging technologies to assist and support the success of all students, including students with disabilities.
Course Reflection/ Impact:
Note: I took this course while UVM was using BlackBoard. I do not have access to class materials and relying on notes and class assignments I saved.
This was my first course I took when I started taking graduate level classes. I was unsure at the time if I wanted to take a focus within my graduate studies, so I thought I would take a course in technology. The decision to take this course first was due to starting my teaching career during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was itching on learning ways to integrate technology in my classroom in effective ways. I also wanted to take a deep dive into differentiation as I wanted to be able to better support my students.
One of the books that we read for this course that really stuck with me was The End of Average by David Rose. This book focused on trying to get society to step away from the idea of "average". Something that really stuck with me was in the beginning of the book where they talked about the invention of the concept of average. They mentioned that it stemmed from the creation of the BMI scale. Rose mentioned that the BMI scale "represented the hidden qualities of the One True Human, the Average Man" (Rose, 2014, pg. 29). This idea blew my mind. I know so many people, including myself, have been beating themselves up over the BMI scale and doctors telling us we were overweight but we did not feel that way ourselves. Knowing this information now, I remind myself that I cannot compare myself to statistics that were put together in the 1840's that depict an ideal of average that is not physically possible. This book continues to break down the idea of average and urges its readers to stop relying on averages and to take a deeper dive on how different averages are calculated and what they are really examining. The book also mentions how schools were created and that they were made to sort students based on their level of talent (Rose, 2014). As an educator, it made me take a different view on standardized tests and placements in a new light.
In this class, we also took a deep dive into Universal Design of Learning (UDL) and differentiation. We used the boook UDL Now! by Katie Novak as well as other articles about differentiation. We talked about how these two topics are different but can be intertwined. While both allow for us to be more inclusive to all types of learners, differentiated instruction is more reactive and is in response to making individualized support and evaluations for each student while UDL is a more proactive approach that allows teachers to step back and think about the students and environment when planning lessons that allows choices in how students can learn. UDL eliminated barriers, but differentiated instruction aims more on how to get around them. We often talked about how each are both important within their own regard, but UDL is more universal and sustainable for students. UDL approached also leads to better learning outcomes as students feel like they can take ownership of their learning.
Throughout the class while learning about UDL and differentiated instruction, we also learned about different technologies that we can incorporate within our classroom. In each module, we took a look at tools such as e-books, audio books, blogs, padlet, FlipGrid, Google sites, Voice threads, screencast, and podcasts. Through each module, we were given opportunities to try or explore each one of these technologies. One of the projects that I completed was creating a ebook through an app called book maker. I created a ebook about a dog that I adopted and had throughout my college years. It was really interesting to try a new piece of technology, even though there was definitely a learning curve. Through learning about these different tools, it made me wonder how I could integrate technology more within my classroom in creative and engaging ways.
For my final project for this course, I refreshed my unit on transformations. I went through what I already had and used in my class and found ways to give it a more UDL approach. I went from having pretty traditional lessons to creating a way to utilize a math menu in which students have choice in their learning. It allows students to engage in material through whole group instruction as well as small group and individual work time. I created this unit not fully knowing how I would make it work within a middle school schedule. Now that I am reflecting back on the work I have done in this class, I am really happy with the progress I have made. Since this class, I have taken an All Learners Network course and have been able to adapt a math menu model that works within my middle school classrooms. I have tweaked it over the past three years, but it is accessible to learners through it being on paper as well as reader accessible PDF's that I upload onto my class pages. There are also opportunities for extra learning through different mediums on every math menu that students can complete if they finish their work early or want extra practice. Students and teachers have commented on how organized and user friendly it is.
Overall since this course, I have been trying to integrate technology and themes of UDL and differentiation. It is super important to me as an educator to make my lessons accessible to all students as well as make them feel confident in their learning. This course has made me continue to think of new ways I can have students engage in the material to keep it fun and relevant for them as well. I am really proud of my growth since the beginning of my journey of completing my masters degree, I feel that I am now finally at a point where I am able to reach all students at a level where they are at and help them grow in their learnings and be more confident math learners.
References:
Rose, T. (2016). The End of Average. HarperCollins.