CAST announces new resources on universal design for learning
Our friends at the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) have recently shared some new resources they have on UDL. Note below and visit http://www.cast.org/:
* The release of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines - Version 1 aimed at helping teachers, curriculum developers, and publishers develop more inclusive curriculum.
* The release of five new free tools to help teachers to meet the challenge of individualizing instruction to meet the diverse needs of students in their classrooms.
The UDL Guidelines will assist teachers, publishers, and others in designing flexible curricula that are more accessible, effective and engaging for ALL learners. They will also help educators evaluate both new and existing curricula goals, media and materials, methods and assessments. Read the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines - Version 1.
Check out the UDL Guidelines Blog -- a forum for educators and other education stakeholders (parents, policy makers, etc.) to offer comments on how to improve the guidelines; share stories about applying the guidelines; and identify new examples and resources that support application of the UDL Guideline options.
Five Free Teacher Resources
Language Arts
UDL Editions by CAST (Ages 10 and up)
UDL Editions by CAST are classic texts from world literature presented in a flexible online interface that provides just-in-time, individualized supports for struggling readers, and added-value features that engage novice and expert readers alike.
Learning features include leveled supports to build reading strategies and help readers understand the elements of the author’s craft; a Texthelp Toolbar for accessibility and language features; context-specific multimedia glossaries and enrichment activities; and multimedia background resources. Developed with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Introduced in partnership with the Google Literacy Project for World Book Day, 2008.
CAST UDL Book BuilderTM (Ages 3 and up)
Free online tool enables educators to develop their own digital books to support reading instruction for children aged 3 and up. Teachers create, edit, and save resource-rich texts. Terry, an animated character, guides educators as they write text, choose images, and develop scripts for the prompts, hints, and models that will help build young readers' skills. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Department of Special Education, NEC Foundation of America, The John W. Alden Trust, and The Pinkerton Foundation. Please send comments or suggestions to bookbuilder@cast.org.
Internet Research and Digital Literacy
CAST Strategy Tutor (Ages 10-and up)
Free online tool to support students and teachers doing reading and research on the Internet. Strategy Tutor helps students read, research, collect and understand information better and more efficiently. For teachers, Strategy Tutor provides a way to easily create web-based lessons embedded with research-based, highly effective learning strategy and vocabulary supports. Developed with generous support from Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Improving Teacher Practice
CAST UDL Curriculum Self-CheckTM
Free online tool that helps educators build options and flexibility into each element of the curriculum (goals, methods, materials, and assessments) in order to reach and engage all students. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Department of Special Education. Please send comments or suggestions to UDLSelfCheck@cast.org.
CAST UDL Lesson BuilderTM
Free online tool that teaches educators to customize standards-based curriculum to meet individual learning needs. Developed in cooperation with the Access Center (American Institutes for Research). Please send comments or suggestions to lessonbuilder@cast.org.