As part of our school’s professional development, I attended a seminar on Universal Design for Learning. The lesson was awesome, and helped me see instruction very differently (more on that in a later post). But what struck me most about the presentation were the first words out of educator Allison Curran’s mouth:
“I could give you the framework for UDL. But that wouldn’t be empowering.”
I came for information. What I got was so much more.
Although I left with a solid basis for what UDL is and how I can begin to implement it in my classroom, the lesson was only 50 minutes long. There’s no way anyone could unpack something as complex as UDL in that amount of time. Allison understood that what I needed wasn’t just information. I could Google that on my own time. What I needed was to feel like I could do an overwhelming task.
And she succeeded in helping me feel that way.
In my classroom, I expect my students to learn various pieces of information and apply them to real-world situations. In a foreign language classroom, usually the application of a given unit is obvious.
The challenge, though, is helping my students believe that they can achieve what I hope them to — that they can be proficient second-language learners, even if they haven’t been exposed to another language during the first 12 years of their life.
My students can look up vocabulary words on their own. They can find Spanish resources, whether it be songs (think Despacito), TV shows (Go! is currently a popular teen drama on Netflix from Argentina) or literature. Duolingo is a great resource for the nuts and bolts of a language.
Do they need instruction? Of course.
But as a teacher, I can oftentimes get too caught up in the content, forgetting what students really need: empowerment.
How much can I really accomplish in one year of foreign language education?
I can teach them enough. But if I want them to learn more, they need to feel like they can be successful after they leave my class.
In those 50 minutes, we only scratched the surface of what UDL is. There was only so much someone can teach on a subject in such short time. But I learned enough to know that I, now, can continue to explore and learn and seek out other opportunities to continue my proficiency.
Thank you to Allison Curran and Hamilton County Educational Service Center for being partners with Kings Local Schools and helping our district educate and empower students better.
Ive never been educated from this man, just empowered. HOORAH!
I’ve never been more empowered by anyone than Mr. Jepson. Philippians 4- God bless