Friday morning

I wonder how I thought I could blog throughout this conference - when there are so many things to see, hear, experience, and be amazed by. I'm a kid in a candy store - technology, disability, and education - and people with the same passions.
I really should be tweeting which would look more like this:

Just learned how to convert text in Word to an Audio file in iTunes that can be loaded on an iPod.

Ran into Richard Ellenson - the father who developed Tango! for his son Thomas - what an amazing person. Thomas is now a tween - 12 years old.

Can't wait to hear about using Text-to-speech to promote literacy for beginning readers.

Time to go to a meeting with Intellitools about our Classroom Suite woes.

Increasing Awareness of Universal Desgin For Learning

Have you heard of UDL? Expect to hear more about it. Here's what I took away from a session titled "What's Going on in DC? A Report from the Front Line".

The inclusion of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 indicates a federal recognition of the potential for UDL to improve practice in classrooms and provide opportunities for students to succeed. With NCLB and IDEA up for reauthorization, the inclusion of UDL in HEOA establishes a strong foundation for UDL to be incorporated in these K-12 policies.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN PROVISIONS IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT (P.L.110-315)
(Summary of Selected Provisions)

SEC. 103. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.

(a) Additional Definitions.-

(23) UNIVERSAL DESIGN.
The term "universal design" has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3002) [which is: "The term 'universal design' means a concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products and services that are usable by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities, which include products and services that are directly accessible (without requiring assistive technologies) and products and services that are interoperable with assistive technologies."]

(24) UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING.
The term "universal design for learning" means a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that-

(A) provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and

(B) reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient.

For more information about UDL click here to go to the National Center on Universal Design for Learning.

Universal Design For Learning - Design, Implement, Evaluate

Today I attended an all-day workshop on UDL (Universal Design For Learning), presented by Dave Edyburn (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). We covered so much and it's such a complex concept but here are some things we learned & discussed:

• Technology Interventions to support student performance
• Designing UDL interventions
  
• Ways to implement UDL in classrooms
• Data collection - Measuring Outcomes of UDL interventions

OK - this will take some time to digest, integrate, apply and express - which I will attempt to offer in smaller chunks than the massive 7 hour profusion I got today.

Teachers Here's one example of an 'intervention to support student performance' -
A cool Math Tool for students - webMATH

What can students do with this tool?



Type a math problem into the boxes -> see each step to solving the problem & the correct answer

• For some it will review/ remind / reteach how to solve problems (Algebra for example).
• For some it will make it possible to do the work (our students with special needs).
  
• For students in the top 10% it might be used to verify answers.
• Some won't use it at all because they can do the work faster without it.

Click here to go to webMATH

Joe's Non-Netbook

Just one of the provocative things I've seen here at ATIA - in the first 3 hours. Thanks to perennial renegade, Dave Edyburn.

Joe tries to interface with a "foreign technology."

ATIA Chicago starts this week

Assistive Technology Industry Association conference - here in Schaumburg Wed through Sat (October 31). Tech heaven for geeks and nerds. :0)

I'll blog from the conference, so check back for updates.