EDLD+5364+-+Course-Embedded+Reflections


 * EDLD 5364 - Teaching With Technology**

The course embedded project for Teaching with Technology – EDLD 5364 that we must create a campus professional development activity, create a wiki-based study group with 3-5 teachers, leading and supporting, who analyze data related to student learning, create a lesson using Universal Design for Learning at the CAST Lesson Builder http://lessonbuilder.cast.org, create a sample electronic book to share with your learning team members. Lastly add a team reflection to your Google site about the process of creating an electronic book.
 * Project Reflection **

My study group consisted of Laurie Womack, Diana Mitchell, and myself. The three of us worked to solve the classroom scenario given by course instructors. We chose to address the seventh grade math topic – complementary and supplementary angles for our group lesson. The group decided to divide and conquer. I chose to address the students with vision and hearing impairments. Laurie selected the special education population, and Diana chose to work with the gifted and talented students. This approach allowed us to distribute the work evenly and helped us develop a well-rounded solution to the scenario.

The group discussion, along with the course readings provided a better understanding of the importance of universal design for learning lessons. Every student is capable of learning and deserves to be given an equal opportunity to do so in the classroom. I found the information provided by the Center for Applied Special Technology on their website (cast.org) to be quite helpful. It not only provided information about Universal Design for Learning, but it also made available a wealth of tools for teachers, such as the UDL lesson creator and the UDL Book Builder.

Overall, the reading material, the group interaction, and the online activities assisted me in obtaining a better understanding of the needs of classroom teachers. It is important for me as an instructional technology specialist not only to understand where they are, what they need to help their students, but how I can provide them with the information and technology tools to meet their goals and student needs.

Creating UDL Lessons was the topic of week three. We were provided with links to three websites designed to help up prepare our lessons using the UDL model. I found the Cast UDL Lesson Builder, located at [] to be a wonderful tool. By using the lesson builder and the tips provided, I was assured that I was including every element necessary to create a lesson that addressed the learning needs of every student.
 * UDL Lesson **

We are expected to accommodate and modify for every student in our class. Since learning styles are different for everyone, it is important that we learn to plan to address these differences, not just guess as to whether we are meeting their needs.

I chose to create a lesson for a 7th grade math class. The topic was complementary and supplementary angles. My goal was to include instructional methods that would address each of the three networks – recognition, strategic, and affective – in my two day unit. Through the use of video, audio, and kinesthetic techniques, I feel that I accomplished this goal and created a lesson that will reach all students, regardless of their learning style.

**UDL Book** Creating the electronic book using [] was a lot of fun. I wanted to use the book as the hook to my UDL lesson. I utilized the free images available from the Microsoft website for the photos and then used Photoshop to crop and adjust the image size. I used Audacity to record the audio clips prior to embedding them into the book.

The book builder was simple to use. I completed the project without difficulty. Locating and cropping the images was the only time consuming part of the project. This application could be used by students and staff alike.

The electronic books could be used to provide students with additional information on any topic. They could be used to supplement lessons as a form of remediation or as an enhancement project for advanced learners. Since the books include a visual and auditory component, it provides students with a multi-sensory learning experience. The possibilities are endless for this application.

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). //Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning //. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Chapter 1. Retrieved on October 5, 2009, from []
 * References **

//UDL Book Builder//. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2011, from CAST: http://bookbuilder.cast.org/

//UDL Lesson Builder.// (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2011, from CAST: http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/