Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs. In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year. Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home. I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms...
This week a team of teachers from my school presented at the Convening on Personalized Learning. Our presentation was on UDL (Universal Design for Learning) strategies and tools we use in the classroom. The format of our presentation was inspired by something we saw at ISTE 18 called Get Goog-Smacked: An Epic Smackdown of G Suite Tools and Teaching Tips which was presented by Kasey Bell, Eric Curtis, Matt Miller, and Vicky Davis. The Smackdown structure was high energy and introduced a lot of different resources in a limited amount of time.
So, we appropriated the Smackdown structure for our presentation All Means All: An Epic Smackdown of Tools to Increase Equity for All Learners. The team included Special Education teacher and department head Andelee Espinosa, english teacher Shannon Maki, special education teacher Stephanie Radomski, special education teacher Ryan Milbrath, associate principal Matt Schroeder, and myself. In organizing our presentation we categorized our tools based on the Universal Design for Learning Model. Our categories were Engage, Access, and Express.
If I had been thinking ahead, I would have had someone record the audio from our presentation, but I didn’t think of that one. But, I still want to share out the great ideas my colleagues have. So, You’ll find the slides we used some of the presenter notes and all applicable links from the presentation.
Introductions
Pear Deck
We used Pear Deck as the platform to present our Slides. Pear Deck is presentation platform for Slides that allows learners to respond to prompts added to a Google Slideshow. It is a great for formative feedback. The slides & responses are shared with students via a Google Doc called a takeaway.
Learn more about Pear Deck here: https://help.peardeck.com/
UDL
We have organized all of our favorite apps, extensions, websites, tips and tricks related to meeting the needs of ALL learners in a classroom according to the three areas of Universal Design for Learning and will share them out in a fast one minute presentation. There will be three rounds; the first round is looking at Engagement strategies which looks at the WHY of learning and stimulates interest and motivation with our students. Then, we will look at how students Access material for different ways of representation. Finally, we will provide you with both high tech and low tech options for how students can express what they’ve learned. At the end of each of the three rounds, you, the audience, will vote for the winner.
Learn more about UDL and get resources here http://udlstudio.cast.org/work
Express
Visual Walkabouts
Provides students with a sneak peek of the content in an upcoming unit through the use of a series of images. Students walk around the classroom gallery of images, making connections and asking questions at each image. This strategy also allows educators to assess prior knowledge and address early misconceptions. You can also do an Agree or Disagree engagement activity with these images. The students are provided a statement with a visual and the student’s need to pick if they agree or disagree with the statement. These 2 strategies also hit the (inquiry of WICOE and it leads to philosophical chairs)
Passion Pages in Google Sites
On day one we create a learner profile. This profile is created in Google Sites. The first page created is passion page. On this page students share their interests and aspirations. Rather than just written text students add videos from YouTube. In Sites easily embed video clips. It lives in a place that is easily accessed, referenced, & updated. It ties into our Department of Public Instruction goal related to Academic and Career Planning. It allow students to communicate to the world and themselves who the are today & want to be tomorrow.
Check out a site here: https://sites.google.com/elmbrookschools.org/hannahphysicsportfolio/passions
Video Modeling
Video Modeling (start video right away, no sound) In our co-taught Physics class we learned that many students had executive functioning deficits and benefited from visual cues and modeling. So, we started to create short videos explaining and showing what was going to need to happen to complete a lab. These videos were embedded in online lab reports and we found that all the learners began using this tool because they could view it as many times as needed. We encourage students to review the video before asking us for help. As a result, they have learned to use resources and it promotes greater independence in the classroom.
Watch a sample video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIY1cKH4Bu0
BreakoutEDU
Breakout Rooms have been sweeping the nation by storm. Instead of taking a field trip to a breakout room, now teachers can bring the breakout sensation to their own classroom. Students use problem solving.
Learn more about BreakoutEDU here: https://www.breakoutedu.com/
Access
PhET Simulations
PhET simulations used to be only physics now STEM. The simulations are free. Many are coded in HTML 5 work on any device with web browser. Simulations cover grades k to post secondary. The sims can be used in any part of learning cycle: introductory exploration, deep inquiry at heart of lesson, remediation, additional practice mode, enrichment, or part of a summative assessment.
Access the simulations here: https://phet.colorado.edu/
ReadWorks
Readworks.org is one of my favorite resources to find leveled, informational text. There is fiction and poetry options, but I’ve used it mostly for non-fiction. One of the best parts is that it’s FREE! The readability goes as low as kindergarten and as high as high school. To search for an article.
Watch a walkthrough here: https://youtu.be/iOCz-BLb1X4
Access ReadWorks here: https://www.readworks.org/
Access
PhET Simulations
PhET simulations used to be only physics now STEM. The simulations are free. Many are coded in HTML 5 work on any device with web browser. Simulations cover grades k to post secondary. The sims can be used in any part of learning cycle: introductory exploration, deep inquiry at heart of lesson, remediation, additional practice mode, enrichment, or part of a summative assessment.
Access the simulations here: https://phet.colorado.edu/
ReadWorks
Readworks.org is one of my favorite resources to find leveled, informational text. There is fiction and poetry options, but I’ve used it mostly for non-fiction. One of the best parts is that it’s FREE! The readability goes as low as kindergarten and as high as high school. To search for an article.
Watch a walkthrough here: https://youtu.be/iOCz-BLb1X4
Access ReadWorks here: https://www.readworks.org/
Kami
Learn more about Kami here: https://www.kamiapp.com/
Interactive Notebooks
Motion Flashcards
See examples of making flashcards kinesthetic: https://youtu.be/NRrdfyrOb1g
POWRE & TIDE
Mnemonic devices have been around for a long time and are a great tool to use to help students recall important information. When students are given this strategy they are able to access the class content. Teachers can use images, rhyming, sounds like, acronyms and many more. Two mnemonic devices I use are the acronyms POWRE for the writing process and TIDE for the organization of a paragraph. These two acronyms have given the students the ability to write paragraphs much more independently and have given them confidence in their writing.
Express
Slides Over Docs
Google Docs is one of the worst platforms for learner expression. I moved over to Google Slides because within a single document. Why?
- Easily add & annotate images
- Create their own diagrams with shapes
- Clearly separate and organize their work into slides
- Embed videos from their google drive or youtube
- Teacher can provide prompts in speaker notes and let students organize their own canvas
- Submit in a variety of modes: present, digital document, print as physical poster
AudioPlayer for Slides
Chrome Extension that allows recording and adding audio to a Google Slides presentation
Get the extension here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/audioplayer-for-slides/anlkfbpodhealnhnmdaflcekcmcjpnil
Tutorial Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufxsKUyjhD0&t=16
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is the leading video discussion platform for millions of educators, students, and their families around the world. The best part, it’s now FREE! Flipgrid promotes fun and social learning by giving every student an equal and amplified voice in discussing prompts organized by the educator. Here’s an example of how we’ve used it in the Physics class I co-teach in (start video) Teachers, you set up a grid, provide a prompt and then give your students access and let their voices be heard. We’ve used it for project pitches, formative assessment, reflection and to connect with other classrooms across the district. The possibilities are truly endless and it’s easy to use!
See a video tutorial: https://youtu.be/0XFilFOXMpo
Learn more about Flipgrid here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19sFKe-nIjQ03FjG8r75IVhFuDcvspGEll7KyxYrU_5s/edit?usp=sharing
#Booksnaps
Booksnaps are the latest rage to connect and engage in any text. It allows students to mark the text with Snapchat, Google Slides, Google Drawings or any other type of tool that uses Snapchat "features". Booksnaps help students with retention, comprehension and engagement while marking the text. In order to do this they first take a picture of the text that they are reflecting on, mark it using snapchat or google slides annotations tools, add stickers or bitmojis to the booksnap to share emotions and record personal reflects about the evidence. Here is an example of one done on The Catcher in the Rye. The student picked a piece of evidence that shows what kind of person Holden Caulfield is, included their reflection and meaning of the evidence and then add Bitmojis to share their emotions about the evidence. As educators we are always looking for new ways for students to show their learning. Booksnaps have provided that new way and have combined something students often dislike, reading, with something they love, Snapchat.
Learn more about #BookSnaps here: https://www.tarammartin.com/resources/booksnaps-how-to-videos/
SE2R and TAG
Giving quality feedback is critical when assessing student learning. However, we’re all teachers and I realize that giving meaningful feedback can be very time consuming if you’re grading 90 or 120 assessments. I’m sharing two different feedback strategies that make giving feedback structured for you and hopefully easier. The first one is Mark Barnes’ SE2R strategy. The second one is something that I think would be great to teach students; the TAG strategy.
One Pagers
Visual representation of what you’ve learned. They vary what you want students to do.
Use a variety of sources - words, symbols, illustrations, pictures, quotations, color, questions. Modified and leveled for all learners - and for students who are self conscious, no one knows the difference. Can be high or low tech. Can be used for formative assessment, reflection or a variety of other checks for learning. What I tell the kids - It’s not about art, it’s about showing what you know. Also and AVID strategy.
See examples here: https://youtu.be/H4NmTYKwIHs
Learn More here http://www.nowsparkcreativity.com/p/ready-for-one-pager-success.html
Shark Tank
Learn more about bringing the hit TV show Shark Tank into your classroom here: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-04-19-how-a-shark-tank-competition-lets-students-create-their-dream-classrooms
If you are looking to see how these different strategies align to the Institute's Model of Personalized Learning (click here to see the model) check the diagram below.
The presentation was a great success. Please feel to reach out if you'd like to learn more about any of these strategies.
Comments
Post a Comment