Teaching with Technology Week 3

      This weeks online readings focused on learning about UDL (Universal Design for Learning).  When the term UDL was first introduced I had no idea what UDL stood for, what it meant or most importantly how it would help me teach with technology.  I read the first article "Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age" and received some information about UDL but I still didn't really understand why this was a subject that I needed to know in regards to teaching students with technology.  Why devote one fifth of a class to UDL?  Why three articles instead of just one?  Well once I begin reading the third article, I begin to really understand how UDL (Universal Design for Learning) can really help in the classroom and why it should be included.  Computers are a big part of technology and often is the most utilized tool for teaching with technology; we often forget that everyone cannot always access this technology or may have to access it in a different way. 
      In an effort to provide meaningful experiences and engage a diverse group of learning the UDL tool can be used to customize lessons for all diverse learner.  In today's classrooms we have students with a variety of knowledge, student with learning disabilities and physical disabilities.  These students can learn the same thing but we may not be able to teach in the same exact way.  When dealing with Universal Design for Learning it focuses on the brain process (Recognition, Strategic and Affective).  Everyone learns differently and the UDL helps to customize the process of learning for everyone.  Blind student, Deaf student, and students with other disabilities are still able to use the computer and other technology resources sometimes just in a different way. 
      This weeks book reading focused more on the different ways technology can be used in the classroom to enhance learning.  The chapters talked about how Web 2.0 tools  (Wikis, Podcast and Flickr) can be integrated into subjects such as Math, English, Science and even Social Studies.  Although these chapter did not per se focus on UDL I can definitely see how these tool could be used to customize instruction and learning of a diverse group.  Blogs would be a great tool for a student with a speech impairment to participate in discussions or using a podcast or clip-art to teach a students with auditory issues.  This weeks reading and video were filled with a wealth of information that I will utilize in the future.