[senit] UDL

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

Hello Simon,

I don't know that this is a key paper/study but I found a paper by Mike
Blamires that perhaps has a 'British' interpretation of the principles on
the following:
http://www.etpe.gr/files/proceedings/uploads1/paper105.pdf 

Although it was written as part of the university's NOF project, some of the
views expressed are very similar to the chapter I quoted from. The paper was
written jointly with a Greek researcher and you will find that the initial
paragraph is in Greek. Don't panic!  Just scroll down the page...the rest is
in English! 

Ann McDevitt

-----Original Message-----
From: senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Simon Judge
Sent: 01 April 2008 17:33
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [senit] UDL

This is an interesting thread, thanks.

 - What is the key paper/study to read on these principles (not the book!)?

 - How does it differ from the principles of differentiation in the UK?

Cheers.

Simon

-----Original Message-----
From: senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Ann
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:41 PM
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: [senit] UDL

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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>>>>                         content of this email please contact 
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>>>> 
>>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> ==========================================================
>>> ==============
>>>  This email has been scanned for viruses and inappropriate content 
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>>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Mark Norwood
>> Assistant Headteacher
>> www.avssc.org 
>> 
>> 
>> ========================================================================
>>  This email has been sent from the Bucks LEA. If you have
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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/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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