Universal Design for Learning
I learn the principal of University Design for Learning in different courses in MEd program which allows me to understand it better.
As a student, I experienced UDL first in learning about learning course in my first semester in TRU which is enlightening. The teacher asked us to teach the different concept of learning theory by different approach. Some of the student choose to teach the theory by playing a video, or showing a PPT, others choose to draw a picture to show their understanding of the theory. It is fully up to the student to choose their own methods to show understanding. I remember we have some great discussion and games in group. We are all having fun and fully engaged in the classroom which is new to me. It is my first time to have a class like this, not like the learning process I experienced in China which only required students to sit and listen, the teaching process in Canada are fun and engagement for students. I knew the class I experienced is the implement of UDL after I get to know the UDL theory. I think it’s helping the teachers to meet the learning outcome of individual at the best chance and provide a environment flexibility and student-centred educational context.
The App I have reviewed is “Socrative”. It is an online app that allows teacher to created quizzes, group assignment, exit ticket, ect context. The Space Rocket is a very good tool which allows student working with their group member and competiting again with one other. Besides that, I think Socrative can only help teachers to collect simply answers from the student. It’s lack of flexibility to meet the different needs of the students because the students can only answer the same quizzes the teacher created.
Thank you for your insights Kenna! Your experiences between China and Canada and how UDL fit within those comparisons really highlight the need for the UDL model because everyone learns in different ways. The app you reviewed has limited tools by the sounds of it but do you think there could be a way of using it from a UDL lens so that it is an option for students to showcase their knowledge or learning?