Student Guide Corner

There are many conversations in the blogosphere repeatedly emphasizing how the tools are secondary to the pedagogy. Lost in the discussions is the reality that the tools make things possible. The tools allow: 1. Differentiation In the previous century, instructional methods were limited to lectures presented by teachers at the front of the class, or at the blackboard; or worksheets and other paper-based presentations; or textbooks; or watching educational PBS programs as a class. There was no opportunity for differentiation. The belief was one size fits all. We know this doesn't work. We understand that the one-size-fits-all approach ignores the needs of many learners - those with learning challenges, attentional and organizational issues, reading disabilities, physical disabilities and vision issues. Technology allows for multiple methods of presentation and allows students to access the material as often as necessary to facilitate understanding. Technology allows students ...

One of the best things that resulted when I attended BLC 08 was the opportunity to have many conversations with Joyce Valenza , the world-renown teacher librarian and self-proclaimed "information goddess." She is one of the most dynamic, energetic, and passionate educators that I have ever met. Well, lucky for us, Joyce took on a project and I am thrilled to share the fruits of her labors which we can all benefit from. Many of you have added the blog post, Free Technology Toolkit for UDL in Every Classroom to your delicious accounts. Joyce took that blog post and made it into a wiki, UDLTech Toolkit , that is easy to navigate and visually more appealing than the blog. I encourage you to bookmark this wiki also. Here is a screen shot of the home page. I'm sure you will agree that this is a much easier tool to use and there are additions there that are not in the blot post. Check it out and let me know what you think. And please, pass along this resource to colleagues, pa...