Are we there yet??

Final Reflection – Reaching and Engaging All Learners

As I think about beginning this course, I remember how stressed I was and the uncertainty of another class. Now that I am in the final week, I find myself amazed at how quickly eight weeks pass and wonder why I was so stressed. As with all of the courses I have taken, I have had the opportunity to work with some great people and have learned things I can use in the classroom.

One area thing that I was reminded of during this course is the importance of being aware of the different learning styles that may be present in the classroom. It is equally important that the students are aware their own learning styles. Tomlinson (2009) states people learn differently and given the chance to express learning in various ways could increase the success of students in the classroom. By varying teaching strategies, teachers have a better chance of reaching most if not all students in the classroom.

Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction were major topics during this course. Universal Design for Learning or UDL is an approach to teaching and learning that focuses on the diversity of student abilities, needs and interests (Rose & Meyer, 2002). Differentiated Instruction or DI is an approach to teaching and learning that gives students multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas (Hall, Strangman & Meyer, 2003). Individualizing instruction and assessment may seem like a very difficult task, but through this course I have realized that making this happen may not be impossible. How many of us are already differentiated instruction due to IEPs and 504s? Why can’t this mindset be transferred to all of our students not just the ones with specific plans?

Technology can play a major role in creating a classroom with UDL and DI principles at the center of the action. With the resources that have been shared by classmates, I have many resources to continue this journey of differentiated instruction. The more I delve into the resources that can be found online, the more I believe I will be able to create and maintain a classroom that will help students be the best they can be.

Reaching and engaging all learners – Are we there yet? We may never be there completely, but with the resources and information gained, we are certainly much closer!

Hall, T., Strangman, N., & Meyer, A. (2003). Differentiated instruction and implications for UDL implementation. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_diffinstructudl.html

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/

Tomlinson, C. (2009). Learning profiles and achievement. School Administrator. 66(2), 28–33. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.