[senit] UDL

From: Ira David Socol <socolira at msu.edu>

Hi Jamie,

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a phrase I haven't seen for a while.
I hope Mike Blamires is still reading SENIT postings as it was something he
was very interested in and I am sure will have much to contribute on the
subject. He wrote an excellent chapter about it in Enabling Technology.
Extracting my copy from the bookshelf, I see that the Centre for Applied
Special Technology (CAST) proposed 3 principles that could be applied to the
curriculum and set an agenda for Inclusion, as follows:

1. Provide multiple representations of content.
2. Provide multiple options for expression and control.
3. Provide multiple options for engagement and motivation. 

I wonder how far we have moved along that route in the ten years since they
were proposed?? 

Ann McDevitt

-----Original Message-----
From: senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Jamie Munro
Sent: 01 April 2008 14:58
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk; Ira David Socol
Subject: Re: [senit] Safari on PC

Now this is the first time I've seen anyone mention Universal Design for
Learning (UDL) on this list, we work extensively with the Center for Applied
Special Technology in the US (who came up with the concept).  Are people in
the UK familiar with UDL?

Jamie

> From: Ira David Socol <socolira at msu.edu>
> Reply-To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
> Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:14:29 -0400
> To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
> Subject: Re: [senit] Safari on PC
> 
> I just want to add a public comment - one which I made privately
"off-list"
> as asked, but I think it is important.
> 
> My concerns with Apple accessibility apply - in broad terms - to universal
> design solutions that would be principally important within inclusive
> environments, and specifically to support for smaller technology
developers
> since the arrival of OSX. That does not suggest that I think Apple systems
> are less intuitive, less easy to learn, or less appropriate for a wide
range
> of users. I do indeed think much of their software in superb, and have
used
> it extensively. So, I apologise for not 'speaking' more clearly.
> 
> That said, I still believe that the corporate and programming attitudes of
> the two companies (Microsoft and Apple) differ when it comes to Universal
> Design for Learning and making it easy for developers to build third party
> solutions, and that this is why - in the fields in which I primarily work
-
> there are often so many more Windows options than Mac options. However, I
am
> an absolute believer in the theory that there is no single solution which
> works for "everyone" or even for "anyone in everyplace." We make our
> technology decisions based on the individual needs and skills of our
> students. 
> 
> Ira 
> 
> Claire Barnes writes:
> 
>> 
>> I too found this a really interesting and informative discussion that was
>> conducted very professionally.
>> 
>> Thanks, 
>> 
>> Claire Barnes 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk
>> [mailto:webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk]
>> Sent: 01 April 2008 13:46
>> To: Jamie Munro; senit at lists.becta.org.uk;
>> webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk; aph at misnet.co.uk
>> Subject: Re: [senit] Safari on PC
>> 
>> Thank you for that informative and really interesting post.
>> 
>> I'm glad that you obviously haven't received the same email
>> telling you to take this discussion off-list that others
>> have 
>> 
>> Looking back over all the emails in this discussion I think
>> they are all interesting, polite and informative and I can
>> see no reason why they are off-topic.
>> 
>> This email is probably the first that is!
>> 
>> Thank you to all who have commented on this thread and
>> therefore taken my knowledge forward. That is what, to me,
>> this forum is all about.
>> 
>> Mark 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Jamie Munro <jmunro at djsn.co.uk>
>> To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>,
>> "webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk"
>> <webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk>,
>> <aph at misnet.co.uk>
>> Subject: Re: [senit] Safari on PC
>> Date: 01-Apr-2008 10:59:23 +0100
>> 
>>> Do Apple do less to support students with special needs?
>>> 
>>> On a personal note, I've worked with Macs since they first
>>> came out in 1984 and have always found that Apple looked
>>> to accessibility before any of it's rivals did.  The Mac
>>> OS had a screen enlarger , CloseView, and facilities such
>>> as "Sticky Keys" in the OS way back in 1985.
>>> 
>>> I believe that Apple Computers were sponsors of the
>>> Disabled Children's Computer Group (DCCG) when it stared
>>> in 1983. 
>>> 
>>> Apple used to produce a very weighty tome, "Apple Computer
>>> Resources in Special Education and Rehabilitation" back in
>>> the eighties and nineties.
>>> 
>>> In 1993 I was part of a group Apple took to Cupertino from
>>> around the world to discuss access issues.
>>> 
>>> Indeed from my recollection it wasn't until the Americans
>>> with Disabilities Act of 1990 included the provision that
>>> any company providing computers to the American Government
>>> had to demonstrate accessibility that most other computer
>>> manufacturers took any notice of accessibility at all. (I
>>> say most, there were some notable exceptions such as IBM)
>>> 
>>> Now you could say that they may not seem as proactive as
>>> they used to be, I certainly don't have as much direct
>>> contact with them in the UK as I used to have.  But then I
>>> don't have much contact with Microsoft directly either
>>> 
>>> On the commercial side, as a company we provide our
>>> products for students with learning difficulties on both
>>> Mac and Windows platforms.  We used to be a purely Mac
>>> only developer, certainly back when Apple used to have
>>> about 70% of the US education market.  I can say we have
>>> had good and bad experiences with both Apple and
>>> Microsoft. 
>>> 
>>> By coincidence on my desk in front of me I have a new
>>> BECTA report on using "digital creativity" to engage
>>> students with behavioural, emotional and social
>>> difficulties from Liverpool University. I notice that was
>>> sponsored by Apple.
>>> 
>>> Jamie 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Jamie Munro
>>> Managing Director
>>> Don Johnston Ltd.
>>> 18/19 Clarendon Court
>>> Calver Road
>>> Winwick Quay
>>> Warrington WA2 8QP
>>> Company Registration Number 2899525
>>> Telephone: 01925 256500
>>> Fax: 01925 241745
>>> Mobile Telephone: 0772 0845428
>>> email: jmunro at djsn.co.uk
>>> 
>>>> From: "webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk"
>>>> <webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk>
>>>> Reply-To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
>>>> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:39:01 GMT
>>>> To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>, <aph at misnet.co.uk>
>>>> Subject: Re: [senit] Safari on PC
>>>> 
>>>> From: "Ira David Socol" <socolira at msu.edu>
>>>>> as with most Apple
>>>>> products - accessibility is an afterthought,  if
>>> thought >> of at all.
>>>> 
>>>> Whilst I agree that Firefox is a more accessible browser
>>>> than Safari (if slower) I must say that your last
>>>> sentence is complete nonsense.
>>>> 
>>>> Apple have always striven to make their products very
>>>> user friendly. This benefits everyone regardless of your
>>>> 'ability'. A 'typical SEN' student (if there is such a
>>>> thing) finds 'Pages' easier to use than 'Word' but then
>>>> so would a 'non SEN' (again if there is such a thing)
>>>> user. 
>>>> There are a number of features built into the OS which
>>>> are specifically designed to increase accessibility.
>>>> 
>>>> I use both Macs and PCs (though modern Macs are PCs, the
>>>> main difference being that the are capable of running
>>>> OSX) and you couldn't really persuade me that windows is
>>>> more accessible other than in the sense that there is a
>>>> wider selection of software available on the Windows
>>>> platform. 
>>>> Mark
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Mark Norwood
>>>> Assistant Headteacher
>>>> www.avssc.org
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>> 
>> --
>> Mark Norwood
>> Assistant Headteacher
>> www.avssc.org 
>> 
>> 
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>  
> 
> 
> Ira David Socol
> Special Education Technology Scholar
> CEPSE
> College of Education
> Michigan State University
> socolira at msu.edu
> http://speedchange.blogspot.com/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 