Unlocking Universal Design for Learning and Creativity

Outline

1. Introduction and Session Goals (5 minutes)
Content & Engagement: Provide an overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), creativity, and blended learning. Engage participants with a live poll to share their experiences and insights on UDL and creativity in their classrooms, encouraging early interaction and setting the tone for collaboration.

2. Understanding UDL and Blended Learning (15 minutes)
Content & Engagement: Introduce the UDL 3.0 framework and its connection to blended learning environments. Participants will collaborate to identify common barriers they face in their teaching and discuss how UDL principles can be applied to overcome these challenges.

3. Digital Storytelling and Multimedia in UDL (20 minutes)
Content & Engagement: Demonstrate how digital storytelling and multimedia projects support UDL principles by offering multiple ways for students to engage with and express their learning. Participants will create a sample multimedia project, practicing how these methods can enhance engagement and representation in their classrooms.

4. Implementing Creativity and Student Choice (20 minutes)
Content & Engagement: Explore strategies for fostering creativity by offering students choices in how they demonstrate their understanding. Participants will brainstorm in small groups to develop creative assessment ideas, then apply these ideas to create a sample project, emphasizing choice and flexibility to meet diverse learner needs.

5. Differentiating Instruction with Digital Tools (20 minutes)
Content & Engagement: Participants work individually or with a partner to modify an existing lesson, incorporating UDL strategies to make it more inclusive. They will then share their modifications with the group, discussing how these changes support differentiated instruction for diverse learners.

6. Assessing and Reflecting on Learning (10 minutes)
Content & Engagement: Introduce methods for assessing UDL effectiveness and creativity in student projects. Participants will use a checklist to evaluate one of their current lessons or projects for accessibility and creativity, sharing their insights and commitment to improvements with the group.

Engagement Strategies
Live Polling: Begin the session with a live poll to assess participants' familiarity and experiences with UDL and creativity, creating an interactive and reflective learning environment.
Collaborative Platforms: Use collaborative platforms to facilitate brainstorming, idea sharing, and reflections during key parts of the session.
Hands-On Activities: Encourage active participation through real-time multimedia creation and lesson modification, allowing participants to apply the strategies in a practical context.
Peer Discussions: Foster peer-to-peer interaction through small group discussions and feedback exchanges during activities.
Reflection and Sharing: Conclude with reflective activities where participants share their insights, takeaways, and commitments to implementing UDL and creativity in their own classrooms.

Supporting research

CAST: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines

The foundational framework for UDL, providing insights on how to create accessible and flexible learning environments that address learner variability.
https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

Edutopia: Creativity in Learning

Articles and case studies on the role of creativity in learning, how to integrate multimedia, and student-centered approaches.
https://www.edutopia.org/topic/creativity/

Storytelling With Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity
by Michael Hernandez