Universal Design for Learning
Breaking the Barriers
May 29, 2008
Why do we evaluate?
• To determine the effectiveness of curriculum materials and methods
• To compare achievement levels within and across schools, school systems, districts and states
• To evaluate student knowledge and skill
Barriers to Accurate Assessment
• Individual learning differences
• Media constraints
• Lack of appropriate supports
• Lack of integration with curriculum
Individual learning differences
• Individual differences in content recognition
• Individual differences in strategic expression
• Individual differences in engagement
Media constraints
• Considering the type of skill or knowledge being measured and the medium in which it is being assessed
• Crossing media lines to gain a richer understanding of what students know
Lack of appropriate supports
• Focus on the goal of the assessment
• Don’t remove daily supports during an assessment
Lack of integration with curriculum
• Most traditional assessments are detached from instruction and practice
• We need to examine the interaction between student and curriculum over time
• Observe and talk to students
• Ongoing assessment allows us to measure the evolution of the learning
Increasing Assessment Accuracy and Accessibility
• Flexibility in presentation
• Flexibility in expression and strategic supports
• Flexibility in engagement
Flexibility in presentation
• Varied media
• Different Supports– links to background info / vocabulary– Concept map– Key points – Diagram
Flexibility in expression and strategic supports
• Technology tools make it easier for the teacher to provide multiple options
• Teachers can combine a variety of tools to track learner progress
Flexibility in engagement
• Include embedded assessment
• Ensure that every student is working at a comfortable and appropriate stage of difficulty
• Vary the content
Motivation
“the essential engine of learning”
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