{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28390857","dateCreated":"1286977290","smartDate":"Oct 13, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"geiselk","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/geiselk","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1286977393\/geiselk-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/udlatfdlrs.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28390857"},"dateDigested":1532144605,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Discussion Question 2","description":"What are the benefits of analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on the student\u2019s strengths and weaknesses? What are the challenges of this approach?","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"33392270","body":"If the curriculum is not strong, how can a student be strong? Weak, unorganized, or inefficient curriculum will only work if the student is an excellent independent learner, willing to do more work to subsidize the curriculum. Analyzing the curriculum before analyzing the students is integral. Some of the benefits might include weeding out any extraneous information, making information more accessible to students, making curriculum more relevant and usable, and making curriculum that is paper-based more technology based.
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\nThe main challenge would definitely be that analyzing and re-vamping curriculum in this way would be extremely time-consuming and tedious. Also, it is easier to just keep teaching the same way, with the same curriculum. If you follow the curriculum as it is already mapped out for you, there is substantially less thought put into creating lesson plans and conducting the class (especially for a veteran teacher).","dateCreated":"1296414312","smartDate":"Jan 30, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"kimriffle","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/kimriffle","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33409428","body":"Curriculum was once focused primarily on content delivered one way with one benchmark for the outcomes. Our culture has transformed into one where information is only a few mouse clicks away. With the explosion of possibility that has resulted from the digital age, a greater number of needs can be met for students who previously could neither have accessed content cognitively nor have expressed it to successfully demonstrate they have constructed meaning from information presented. This is no longer the case.
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\nIn the process of reviewing the goals of the curriculum, we can look at the tools we have to facilitate that curriculum and what can be built into it to engage students in the learning process. The necessary flexibility to meet the needs of a diverse student population can be addressed prior to class time and a teacher can be prepared to help his\/her students to strategize and work their way towards success.
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\nThe problem with focusing on curriculum as opposed to students' strenghths and weaknesses is the necessary attention to detail to the specific student community. As stated in the book, realistically a teacher can only present one option at a time. Where songs might work for one student, another with sound sensitivity might lose it in class. One student has Asbergers while another has ADHD. The fact that one has tools to build flexibility into a curriculum does not mean it will meet the needs of every student in the class.","dateCreated":"1296448016","smartDate":"Jan 30, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"Headsup","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/Headsup","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33518524","body":"Kim: You have made some good points. During pre-planning teachers are often so crunched for time but making a point to really become fluent in your curriculum materials can make all of the difference. You are able to see where you may need to add more hands-on activities for your tactile learners for instance.","dateCreated":"1296606959","smartDate":"Feb 1, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"alissa.plaisance","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alissa.plaisance","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1295722731\/alissa.plaisance-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33519426","body":"Headsup: Yes! We each have such diverse students in our classes. It can be overwhelming at times. With such unique needs, especially regarding students with Aspergers or ADHD you really have to think out of the box to keep them engaged and motivated. You really have to go beyond a student's IEP and learn their needs and interests.","dateCreated":"1296607645","smartDate":"Feb 1, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"alissa.plaisance","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alissa.plaisance","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1295722731\/alissa.plaisance-lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"28390807","dateCreated":"1286977242","smartDate":"Oct 13, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"geiselk","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/geiselk","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1286977393\/geiselk-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/udlatfdlrs.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28390807"},"dateDigested":1532144605,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Discussion Question 1","description":"At the core of UDL is the premise that often the curriculum is disabled (and disabling!). It is not flexible; it often poses barriers, and consequently prevents rather than supports optimal learning experiences. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Why or why not?","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"33391860","body":"I agree that they way we use the traditional curriculum right now can be disabling for some children. It only reaches the students who can focus, do not have reading comprehension struggles, students who are organized enough to keep their work together, ones that can visualize in their heads, etc. Our goal as educators is to teach our students. It should be our job to make sure that we are teaching in a way that all students can learn. We want to shape \u201cexpert learners\u201d while teaching a subject we are shaping how a student learns, creating a desire to learn, and making sure they are prepared to learn.
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\nIn reading The Future is in the Margins, I find myself getting excited about the growth of technology. We are finding more and more ways to reach out to our struggling students. It is a type of hands-on learning that at 2-D textbook won't allow.
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\nOur students are not cut from a set cookie mold. We need to accept that and teach towards the diversity that we have in our classrooms. We have to be flexible and meet their needs. The most important fact I have learned from this material is that Universal Design for Learning makes things accessible to everyone, therefore benefitting everyone. It means being flexible, it does not mean having 1 solution for teaching.","dateCreated":"1296413268","smartDate":"Jan 30, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"szavella","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/szavella","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33406244","body":"I agree that the current curriculum model that we use in our classrooms is disabled and disabeling. It is formated for the "optimal learners". Those having no difficulties applying and responding to the traditional methods of learning. It only allows limited modes of delivery to the students, as well as
\ninflexible modes of feedback from the students. The UDL model sets up a curriculum that can service a broad range of learners and learning styles. Creating a wider margin for success for both the teachers and the students.
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\nIn the "Future is in the Margins" article, we are introduced to the wide variety of uses for the technological advances inside and outside of the classroom. It allows us to view what once were considered as disabilities in certain students now as opportunities to implement technological and assistive tools that will bring about an ease of learning to these diversified learners.
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\nI am eager to learn more about what is out there and available; and effective ways to bring these tools and aids into the classroom to support the wide span of learners.","dateCreated":"1296441034","smartDate":"Jan 30, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"ddmac180","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/ddmac180","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33520780","body":"Susan and Dana: We are all on the same page. Personally, I get giddy thinking of the potential that technology has to offer our students. New software and sites get introduced daily that benefit ALL students. I have a very clear memory of a teacher I once had that only let the "star" students (the ones that finished their work quickly and displayed "teacher-pleasing" behavior) use the computers in class. What a mistake! The whole class deserved a chance to use them. She was actually one of the motivating factors in my choice to go into ESE. I knew that struggling learners needed something more than text books and worksheets. I am glad something good came of it!","dateCreated":"1296608793","smartDate":"Feb 1, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"alissa.plaisance","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alissa.plaisance","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1295722731\/alissa.plaisance-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33670068","body":"Computers in the classroom???? You must be young! We had typewriters!","dateCreated":"1296838771","smartDate":"Feb 4, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"szavella","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/szavella","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"33679186","body":"Yes, Susan. We had some of the first Mac's in our classroom.
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\nWhat's a typewriter? :)","dateCreated":"1296846000","smartDate":"Feb 4, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"alissa.plaisance","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alissa.plaisance","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1295722731\/alissa.plaisance-lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}