UDL Guidelines: Educator Checklist

UDL Guidelines 

UDL Guidelines: Educator Checklist

"One size does not fit all". Often times educators need to be reminded that all students are not equal and bring about different learning abilities. It is how we accommodate our pedagogical teaching strategies which helps us reach everyone of them.  This is the first time I have done work using the Universal Design for Learning Guidelines. I must admit, I have been one to disregard the lack of differentiation in my lesson plans. After using the above UDL Guidelines: Educator Checklist and further reflected on the objectives and presentation of my lesson, I can see how ineffective I have been in promoting the learning experience of every single student in my classroom. We make assumptions that every one will comprehend at the same level. For example, at my present school, the majority of students are English Learners. I tend to forget and assume that everyone has the same English skills, but I complain when students fail to demonstrate mastery of content when I should be aware of the differences in skills. Another example is that I recognize that in order to allow students to be able to express themselves, I need to be more open-minded and provide them with various options of expression. Learning and practicing these guidelines will certainly improve my delivery of content and surely promote the learning of all students.

Evaluation of MERLOT Resource

After exploring MERLOT for resources to use in my Biology class this upcoming school year, I found Biomes of the World by the Missouri Botanical Gardens. This website if full of information that can easily be navigated by everyone. Following, I will provide an evaluation based on the content, effectiveness as Teaching-Learning Tool, and ease of use.  First a short background: A Biome is a large geographical area that is characterized by certain types of plants and animals, climate, soil, and amount of precipitation. 

The content of this website is very significant in learning about the subject. It provides detailed information about each one of the major Land, Freshwater, and Marine Biomes. It also includes facts about the different characteristics which make each one of them unique. Each section is very explicit in explaining the various ecosystems found within each Biome and also the interactions between animals and their environment. If visuals is what you need, then you will find them here as well. There are many pictures of animals and plants. Another great addition to the content is that it provides reflections from other students whom have experienced visiting these different landmarks.

This website can be a very effective Teaching-Learning Tool which can be used as an explanation for the introduction to the unit. After learning the material, students should be able to define what a Biome is and understand the characteristics and differences between each one of them. The targeted audience is a combination of 9th through 12th grade students taking Biology and are between the ages of 14-18 years old.  The vast amount of information all found in one place can be beneficial for both teacher and student and can influence in learning the material more easily. The instructor can take advantage and readily include this resource into their curriculum and improve their quality of teaching methods. Also, due to the amount of information provided, other assignments can possibly be developed which can further teach or assess the student's comprehension about the subject.

You can easily find your way around this website. The interactive color-coded icons provides simple navigation. Click on any of the titles and you will be on your way to discovering what each Biome is all about. There is no need for any other technical support in order to use the information. You do not have to be an expert to use this website since the layout for browsing should be familiar to most students. Ultimately, the visuals are extraordinary which can attract most students and capture their attention for a long time. 

I will definitely use this resource for my own purposes and I hope that if you are another Biology or Science teacher like me, you do the same.