Teachers in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. are coming up with creative ways to introduce curriculum to students through a framework that guides instruction.
Universal Design for Learning, according to George Van Horn, BCSC director of special education, is based on three core principles:
- Helping educators find different ways to teach material to students,.
- Engaging students to get them excited about learning.
- Allowing them to demonstrate what they have learned.
About 125 teachers participated in a voluntary week-long UDL Institute at Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech High School last week. It allowed teachers in the district to hear from UDL experts and learn more about the concept, which has been used locally since 2006.
“For teachers, it gives them the ability to reach more kids,” Van Horn said. “It gives teachers freedom to be more creative.”
The district has nine UDL facilitators across its school buildings who provide support to teachers, said Rhonda Laswell, one of the district’s two UDL coordinators.
“You’re designing accessible instruction for everyone,” Laswell said. “You’re really teaching students how to be an expert learner.”
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
