UDL in 15 Minutes

105: Using a combination of UDL, shared unit planning, and a focus on Power Standards to help Middle School students build their executive functioning skills

Shannon Costley and Megan Babb discuss how they have used a combination of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), shared unit planning, and a focus on Power Standards to guide their middle school learners back to the face-to-face classroom after the pandemic shutdown.

104: How one co-op has improved the engagement and expression of ALL learners via a flexible digital tool.

Kyle Carlin and Andrea Wichers from the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative discuss how they have implemented a UDL-aligned flexible digital tool, Read and Write, and how it has improved students' engagement and expression.

103: Jeremy and Stephanie of Pike Valley School District in Scandia, Kansas talk about specific system supports they use to provide ongoing support and help staff embrace UDL.

Jeremy Miller, the principal of Pike Valley Junior/Senior High School, and Stephanie Jensen, a Resource Teacher at the same school, discuss their school's journey with Universal Design for Learning (UDL). They highlight the importance of both instructional and technical leadership skills in implementing UDL effectively. Jeremy and Stephanie share how they have created structures and provided support to help their staff embrace UDL. They also discuss the integration of UDL with other statewide requirements and their plans for the future.

102: How a statewide book study series is spreading the UDL word

In this episode, Loui Lord Nelson interviews Nicole Glynn and Nicole Peters about their experiences with UDL and their facilitation of the Kansas Interstate book study. They discuss their journey with UDL, the design of the book studies, and the activities they provided for high-level thinking during the discussions. They also talk about the professional development standards they incorporated into the book studies and their plans for future book studies. ​

Key Takeaways: ​ 1. The Kansas Interstate book study was initiated by the state Infinitec program and expanded to include participants from both Kansas and Illinois. 2. The book studies were designed to provide examples of UDL and promote high-level thinking among participants. 3. The discussions were framed around the professional development standards and included activities and small group discussions to engage participants. 4. The book studies will continue in the next school year with a focus on "The Shift to Student Led" book by Catlin Tucker.

101: PLCs plus coaching impact statewide UDL professional learning

Cindy Malone of Kansas Infinitec shares how a statewide system of UDL Professional Learning Communities and coaching have shifted technology use across Kansas.

I’m a brain master: When students are fully empowered

Brandon shares how he used his Tell me about UDL bulletin board to empower his learners to learn about UDL and become strong self-advocates.

Truly weaving in UDL: One district’s story

Mary Waldron and Michaela Clancy of Washington share how equity work and MTSS were Clover Park School District’s springboard into the UDL.

98: How students established the push for inclusion

Sara Lucero and Cassie Stevens return for part 2 of their story about how inclusion became a central part of Olympic View Elementary School.

97:How one principal is dismantling self-contained classrooms with the help of UDL.

This episode continues our journey with the Inclusionary Practices Project in Washington. Sara Lucero, the principal of Olympic Park Elementary School, shares the steps she took to shift away from self-contained environments to inclusive classrooms and how UDL influenced that shift. Cassie Stevens shares how the project supported Sara’s vision and actions.

Special edition: ”What does UDL look like?” This tool answers that.

The ultimate UDL question is “what does UDL look like?” Loui shares how her new tool, The UDL Gears, helps UDL users in all fields and around the world shift that question to, "What are the consistencies of UDL application?" In this episode, guest host Dakota Hudelson (from episode 8) is asking the questions and Loui is the guest!