UDL & AT Working Together on Campus

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Universal Design for Learning on Campus
Weve got you covered!

• By Kay Banks
• EDET J735

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Universal Design for Learning

• An educational approach to teaching, learning,
  and assessment, based on research and new media
  technologies to respond to individual learner
  differences.
• It is not about access to information but access
  to learning. It is a framework for teaching.
• Key concept of UDL is that it is designed from
  the beginning and not added later on.

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Learning Disabilities

• They are real.
• It is not the same thing as mental retardation or
  autism.
• These disabilities affect the brains ability to
  receive, process, store, respond to, and
  communicate information.
• They affect people differently, range from mild
  to severe and can be diagnosed early or later in
  life.

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College Students with Learning Disabilities

• Most college professors fail to realize that
  students with learning disabilities need
  assistive technology in the classroom because
  their disability is invisible.
• Examples of students with learning disabilities
• Student diagnosed as AD/HD or dyslexia
• Difficulty interpreting auditory or visual
  information
• Difficulty organizing ideas or remember math
  facts and calculation

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Assistive Technology

• Assistive Technology does not replace UDL.
• In the college setting, Assistive Technology
  refers to products or devices that can assist
  students with disabilities (invisible or visible)
  with their educational activities and
  independence.
• Contrary to the cartoon, AT is available for
  everyone.

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Assistive Technology in College

• To determine the most appropriate AT device,
  consider the following
• Individual
• The tasks needed to be performed
• The technology
• The setting where the technology will be used
• A recent Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  or Summary of Performance (SOP) can help college
  administrators determine the students ability in
  the classroom.

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AT Devices Text in Alternative Format

• SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance)
• Independent piece of hardware that scans printed
  material, such as books and magazines, etc., and
  reads it aloud to the user.
• Bookshare.org
• Obtain e-text versions of books and journal
  articles
• Kurzweil 3000
• Reads text aloud in human speech and allows text
  navigation

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AT Devices Note taking

• Livescribe
• A smartpen that captures words, audio, scribbles,
  symbols and diagrams, transferring notes and
  records to a Mac or PC.
• QuickLink Pen
• Collect scanned text for later retrieval by
  computer

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AT Devices Speech to Text

• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• Converts your speech into typed text through the
  use of a headphone microphone.
• MetroPlex Voice Computing
• Type and graph correctly formatted math equations
• iListen
• Software program for Mac users that converts
  speech to text

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AT Devices Organization

• Inspiration
• Visual/graphic representation of idea with
  capability to switch between text and graphic
  versions
• Smartphone calendar
• Organize and keep track of numbers, schedule,
  reminders for test and assignments

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Tips for selecting AT devices

• How user-friendly is the AT tool?
• Instructions should be brief and easy to read
• What is the quality of its visual display and
  auditory output?
• It should be easy to see and hear
• How reliable is it?
• Ask other students and staff members how well the
  product works or read product reviews posted
  online.
• What technical support is available?
• This is helpful in case you experience technical
  issues in the evening when campus offices are
  closed.

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Resources

• National Center for Learning Disabilities
  http//www.ncld.org/
• Association on Higher Education and Disability
  http//www.ahead.org/
• Students with Disabilities Preparing for
  Postsecondary Education http//www2.ed.gov/about/
  offices/list/ocr/transition.html