Module 7: Learning Spaces

Developing Learning Spaces is becoming increasingly important.  You will have the opportunity to identify the learning space that you want to create and then design it.

What ARE You Thinking?

What do you consider when you are thinking about creating a new learning space.  This short video takes you on a journey through the mind of a Learning Space designer at the University of Oklahoma.

Try It with YOUR classroom: 

What can you do with your own classroom?  Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy) shares 12 ways to Upgrade Your Classroom Design.

In-Class Activity: As a design team, break into a Zoom breakout room and progress through the steps 12 ways.  Discuss how you would apply this to your personal classroom or workspace.  We will share our ideas after we come back together.

What are the Effects of Changing Your Space?  

How does it affect how your students work?  How does it affect how you work?   Listen to this CoolCatTeacher podcast where she interviews a middle-school English teacher about what changes she made in her classroom, what it cost, and what effect it had on her students. 
My Kids Hate their Desks! (and What I did about it!)

What about on a GRANDer Scale?

Now that you have Changing Learning Spaces on your mind.  Review these books to learn more about what you can do with $100,000.  You will be charged to create a unique learning space for your final project.  Develop insight about what is possible.

Designing Spaces for Effective Learning: A Guide to 21st Century Learning Space Design.

This is an introductory booklet that explores transforming learning spaces. It includes Entrances, Teaching Spaces, Vocational Teaching Spaces, Learning Centers, and Social Spaces

Research on Learning Space Design: Present State, Future Direction
This document reviews the research on how learning spaces affect learning success. This review explores both formal and informal learning spaces.  Ultimately, it provides an overview of learning space design research.

Module 6: Universal Design for Learning/Assistive Technologies

The world isn't equally accessible to all people. There are many challenges that we have to be able to function and succeed in our worldly activities.  In the past, people have tended to emphasize the deficits in others' ability to function in the world. This has led to always talking about people being handicapped and disabled. This can cause a great divide between groups. 

Here is a TED Talk (TEDMED) video of Emilee Mullins who talks about what the term, disabled, means to her. She is a double amputee who is an Olympian runner and motivational speaker.  This will cause you to rethink your perspective of what it means to be called "disabled."

Having Special Needs
Consider, if you will, that all humans have special needs. It is just a matter of degree. It might be the need for glasses for reading, the need for an auditory reader because someone has vision problems or the need for alternate means of communicating because someone has Lou Gehrig's disease or cerebral palsy.  As we get older, we might review articles on our computer screens at 150% so that they are easier to read.  It's all a matter of degree.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a combination of pedagogy and technique that acknowledges the different levels of needs. UDL uses brain-based research to identify the need for addressing multiple methods of representation, expression and engagement of learners with information and knowledge. It involves instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments. 

The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) is a leader in the field of UDL. Here is 5-minute introductory video on UDL.



UDL is all about presenting new ideas through different perspectives. Here is a Canadian Star Trek video perspective about UDL. Watch this and decide if it is an effective method for representing information in another format.



How do you feel about UDL now?  Did you understand what the videos were trying to convey?  Was one video more effective than the other?  Is it enough to just represent information in a different manner or does design play into the situation as well?

For Visual Learners, this UDL Infographic depicts the various cognitive areas of UDL, applications and resources that you may find useful in your classroom. 

The Difference between Universal Design for Learning and Traditional Education
So what is the difference between UDL and K-12 Traditional Education?  You need to understand that before you can even hope to implement it into your classroom.  The Understood Team created a useful chart to compare the two approaches.  Review it with your classroom (or learning/teaching experience) in mind. It addresses a number of aspects including focus, accommodations, classroom setup, and grading.    

Differentiated Learning
Recognizing that students have varying backgrounds, levels of readiness, preferences in learning, and interests is important if you are going to be able to address their needs. You will need to Differentiate your teaching styles to address their learning needs. You try to meet students where they are from an educational perspective. UDL is a strategy that is based upon differentiated learning and teaching. Read this article, Differentiated Instruction and Implications for UDL Implementation, to see how these strategies work together.

Assistive Technology

While UDL involves strategies to benefit all learners, Assistive Technologies (AT) are devices (some electronic and some not) that increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. UDL is a teaching practice while AT is something that you can touch. 

There are many Types of Assistive Technologies. (These technologies are grouped by manufacturers but they are explained on each of the websites.)  Not all AT are electronic, but this list includes a variety of ways that people can interact with technology to function in the world. They may involve input devices that control computers using a variety of methods. They may be output devices that allow computers to communicate with people through Braille, voice, visual representation or even physical activity. 

Examples of UDL and Assistive Technologies

iPads in the Special Ed Classroom
This is a blog run by a special education educator. This page is a treasure-trove of resources. It explains a variety of benefits of using tablets (yes, I know that it is iPad-based, but think "tablet") as computing tools for students. These are from the teacher's, student's and education's points of view. Explore the many resources in the right column as well.

Universal Design in the Workplace
Universal Design can refer to learning or it can refer to accessibility in the workplace. This can mean a great deal when we want to make the workplace a welcoming environment for people with special needs. While UDL has 3 areas of implementation, UDW (UD in the Workplace) has 3 as well: 1) Workplace environment, 2) Workplace technologies, and 3) Workplace policies and tasks.

UDL Resources at the CAST UDL Exchange
UDL Resources can be difficult to find, share and use in your classroom. CAST has developed an exchange where for storing UDL Resources, Lessons and Collections (of Lessons). You can go here to find the tools you want to use or it provides you with the templates to create these for your use and to share with others.  

How Do We Apply Universal Design for Learning?
Now that you have been introduced to UDL and experienced the needs for using such strategies, the question remains about "How to implement UDL strategies." The Readings and Watchings that you just completed will provide a strong foundation for the activities that you will be completing for your assignment.

Return to your eLearning Module 6 to receive your specifics for the Assignment.