This application addresses week four requirements.

1. Universal Design for Learning By: Scott Dickerson

3. Universal Design for Learning Three Principles Representation Vary font sizes, use color to emphasize, vary your layouts, closed captioning, emoticons, sound effects, provide descriptions of images, give tactile examples. Action/Expression Provide alternatives for physical interaction, alternative keyboards, different forms of scaffolding exercises, guided questions for self-monitoring Engagement Provide options in production, cooperative learning groups, provide self-assessment tools

4. Universal Design for Learning Technology Technology tools, if designed according to the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and UDL guidelines, can be created to support the individualization necessary to engage all learners (http://www.cast.org/udl/faq/index.html#q6). Examples Text to Speech software, Speech to text software, Write:OutLoud, eTrekker, and AlphaSmart

5. Universal Design for Learning UDL Impact in the Classroom If used and implemented properly, UDL will provide a learning environment that is welcoming to all learners. Student engagement and effort will increase and assessment scores will be positively affected. Many students in my classroom have learning disabilities. With more effort to implement UDL, my students will benefit from multiple means of representation, action, and engagement.

6. Universal Design for Learning Brain Research – Three distinct networks Recognition (what) How we make sense of presented information Strategic (how) How we demonstrate learning Affective (why) How motivation and participation impact learning UDL provides support to all diversities by delivering multiple ways to complete a learning assignment. No matter your special need, UDL will provide a way for you to meet the learning outcome.

7. Universal Design for Learning Technology  UDL Technology provides many means of individualization for students of all levels, abilities, and age groups. Technology, although a wonderful thing, is not a save all. The learning environment must be structured so that the lessons goals are still the main focus. Technology provides a way to incorporate the different brain learning networks.

8. Universal Design for Learning Three CAST Tools eTrekker This program has the ability to benefit our learning disabled students complete research on the web. eTrekker will help students identify keywords in their web searches. Keywords are something that our students struggle with when working on the internet. eTrekker can also help the student keep track of the websites visited and will allow students to create concept maps. Write: OutLoud This program in my mind is probably the best of all three of these. OutLoud will check a students sentence structure. Many of my special education students struggle producing good grammatical sentences. Using this program places these students on solid footing for producing structurally sound writings. eReader Our school has many students who are below proficient readers. With eReader’s read aloud option and speed levels; those students who struggle with reading would be able to become more efficient readers. This program would help our students become more comprehensive readers and faster readers.