SPED 2 Portfolio: Sharing What I've Learned

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 It took me a few days away from this course to let everything sink in, and I think I can finally put into words what I have learned. This course has built on the knowledge that I have had a fairly superficial understanding of and helped me have a better understanding of theory and application.  Learning through the subject areas in modules 3-5 has aided in my understanding of how to use differentiated instruction and UDL within those areas and design plans that everyone in my class can access. 

I have a greater understanding of the importance of using tools to learn more about students and design learning to meet their needs. The tools in “Module 2.4: What works for students?” are great resources and will absolutely be utilized in my future planning. 

Thank you, Vanessa, for designing and facilitating the learning throughout this course and thoughtfully planning the material and topics for discussion. When I think about the design of this course and the learning opportunities I was presented with, I feel it is truly applying UDL. Seeing it in action as a learner has helped me understand how it works and the benefits. The course represented content in multiple ways, provided opportunities for collaboration and independent work, provided learners with choice in ways to express their learning AND choice to follow interests to some degree. I really appreciated being able to choose articles that I found interesting within a topic, especially during module 3 on reading where I was able to explore the science of reading-related materials. The feedback from you was thorough, personal, and positive! I can see how UDL can motivate students and foster engagement. 

I’ve also appreciated interacting and sharing work, experiences, and feedback with everyone over the past couple of months. It has always felt like a big risk for me to share my work and my thinking with people, so receiving feedback that is both positive and productive has really encouraged me to feel more comfortable. I’m always thanking my students for taking risks to share their ideas and work and know I should be modeling that. 

I look forward to expanding on what I’ve learned during the “Specialist” course in September, continuously adding to my portfolio (this blog), and practicing applying UDL and DI more thoughtfully into my future plans. -JW