Empowering Student Voice using UDL and Technology Tools

Purpose & objective

With so many distractions available in our students' lives, it has become increasingly apparent that more of our students are finding themselves disengaged from school and learning. This session focuses on how to design learning experiences that better meet the needs of our students using Universal Design for Learning. It shows how you can use UDL as a way to better integrate technology in our classroom setting.

As part of my ISTE Certified Educator coursework, I was reintroduced to the principles of UDL. It is essential that educators use these principles to ensure that all of their students can first access content, but also represent their learning in innovative ways.

This presentation will focus on how Wixie, Book Creator, Flip, and Pear Deck promote UDL in classrooms and how they can be valuable engagement tools in our classroom. Sample activities and guides for implementation will be shared.

Evidence of successes in my work will be shared as well.

Outline

1. Introduction and Why Should We Empower Student Voice (5 min)
2. Exploring the Connection between Student Voice and ISTE Standards for Students (5 min)
3. Chalk Talk: What ideas come to mind when you consider empowering student voice and choice? (5 min)
4. How UDL Empowers Student Voice and Empowering Student Voice Choice Board (10 min)
5. Tech Tools That Empower Student Voice (20 min)
- Using Wixie and UDL to Empower Student Voice (5 min)
- Using Flip and UDL to Empower Student Voice (5 min)
- Using Book Creator and UDL to Empower Student Voice (5 min)
- Using Pear Deck and UDL to Empower Student Voice (5 min)
6. Exploration of Resources (10 min)
7. Reflection- 4 Cs using Jamboard ( 5 min)
8. Conclusion and Call to Action ( 5 min)

Supporting research

UDL Cast Guidelines: https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

John Spencer: https://youtu.be/L08wNizulOY and https://youtu.be/BYBJQ5rIFjA

Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-make-student-choice-work

ISTE articles:
- https://www.iste.org/explore/classroom/focus-udl-when-using-classroom-technology
- https://www.iste.org/explore/In-the-classroom/UDL-is-not-just-for-students