Tandra Erickson
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I am a Education Specialist working as the Assistive Technology Specialist for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District in Concord, CA. I work with all students pre-K to 22 with disabilities and their IEP Teams to look at ways to increase access to their curriculum. Innovative technology plays a vital role in my work. Visit my professional site.
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UDL Home Resources Inspiration About the Author
Reflection on Universal Design In Learning
Working through this program I have developed several fundamental principles that guide me as an educator and in my work.
The first principle is based upon the Supreme Court Ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." We know that staff and students view special education classrooms the rooms for "those kids" and typically are provided the least amount of resources. We need to recognize that having separate classrooms inherently leads to stigmatization and that we have a duty to make sure we have tried supports in the classroom before moving a child to a more segregated and restrictive environment.
My second principle is based on a quote from the book UDL in The Classroom, Hall, Meyer and Rose, 2012 that "UDL raises a radically different expectation: that it is our curricula that are too disabLed, too disadvantaged, or too uniform to reach goaLs that really matter." How can I as an educator look at what is essential for students to learn and provide them ways to express what they've learned? What barriers need to be removed to make that happen?
The third principle is based upon a question poised to us - do we have a duty to share our knowledge? I find that answer to be a resounding yes! My coursework has inspired me to create several websites for my district, join the EBCue Board, present at CUE, work with my District Technology Intregration Program Specialist to provide free and on-going technology workshops and to establish Open Labs for people to come in get resources to software and printers, be able to trial equipment and be a place to ask and get questions answered about assistive technology.
When reflecting on the Innovative Educator program, it has inspired me to continue to learn, to share what I've learned and be able to be a resource in my district to help implement 21st Century Learning.
The first principle is based upon the Supreme Court Ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." We know that staff and students view special education classrooms the rooms for "those kids" and typically are provided the least amount of resources. We need to recognize that having separate classrooms inherently leads to stigmatization and that we have a duty to make sure we have tried supports in the classroom before moving a child to a more segregated and restrictive environment.
My second principle is based on a quote from the book UDL in The Classroom, Hall, Meyer and Rose, 2012 that "UDL raises a radically different expectation: that it is our curricula that are too disabLed, too disadvantaged, or too uniform to reach goaLs that really matter." How can I as an educator look at what is essential for students to learn and provide them ways to express what they've learned? What barriers need to be removed to make that happen?
The third principle is based upon a question poised to us - do we have a duty to share our knowledge? I find that answer to be a resounding yes! My coursework has inspired me to create several websites for my district, join the EBCue Board, present at CUE, work with my District Technology Intregration Program Specialist to provide free and on-going technology workshops and to establish Open Labs for people to come in get resources to software and printers, be able to trial equipment and be a place to ask and get questions answered about assistive technology.
When reflecting on the Innovative Educator program, it has inspired me to continue to learn, to share what I've learned and be able to be a resource in my district to help implement 21st Century Learning.