Universal Design for Learning The idea of a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) comes from the belief that every aspect of society needs to fit the needs of everyone, including people with disabilities or other differences from the norm. These accommodations include the areas of architecture, education, and every aspect of society. Universal Design for Learning has become part of official public policy in a number of areas. The first appearance of UDL in public policy occurred in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. UDL was defined and cited in numerous sections of this act. Since then, UDL has been included in other official public policies at the federal, state, and local levels. UDL incorporates three overarching principles: engagement, representation, and action and expression. The first principle of UDL, to provide multiple means of engagement, is the “why” of learning. It is often how we start lessons, but it continues far past just the beginn
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Podcast: Great Library Services and Programs with your hosts Brenda, Heather, and Gilbert https://youtu.be/HLrevQJXKCM?si=ABv69iSgYDeWbMOx Podcasting for School Librarians Like so many things, podcasting has a complicated history, but many sources agree that podcasting got its start in the early 21 st century. It was a technological extension of radio talk shows and news programs that had been broadcasting since the 1930’s, with the difference being the medium, going from radio airwaves to the internet. Podcasting has become part of countless industries, including the education industry. Many school libraries produce podcasts for their patrons and communities. The podcasters include both librarians and students. As a student of library science, I had not delved much into the whole podcasting thing, but a recent assignment allowed me the opportunity to explore podcasting and ultimately make a podcast with two of my classmates. The first step to making this podc
How-To Presentations The history of how-to presentations goes back into pre-history: how to make a fire, how to make a wheel, etc. Today it is an established part of classroom assignments, even to the point that it is possibly the most common way for teachers to address the 5 th grade TEKS ELA 5.1.B-C: “(B) follow, restate, and give oral instructions that include multiple action steps; (C) give an organized presentation employing eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, natural gestures, and conventions of language to communicate ideas effectively…”. You would be hard-pressed to find a high school graduate who hasn’t made a how-to presentation. The following is an example of a how-to presentation targeted at school age students. How To Throw A Disc Golf Frisbee Some say the genesis of frisbee goes back to the late 1870’s when college students threw pie pans recreationally. After that, the pastime became most successfully commercialized by the WHAM-O toy company when, in