Technology Tools
Gooru
Tools, digital content, and data for students to own their learning. ...
Technology Tools
CAST, Inc.
Technology Tools
Technology Tools
Educators often take advantage of educational technologies as they make the shifts in instruction, teacher roles, and learning experiences that next gen learning requires. Technology should not lead the design of learning, but when educators use it to personalize and enrich learning, it has the potential to accelerate mastery of critical content and skills by all students.
The Innovation
Universal Design for Learning Modules
Supporting Literacy in Physics
A single, one-size-fits-all course solution can overlook a student’s unique way of learning and engaging with others. CAST, Inc. creates personalized learning experiences with its flexible curriculum that can be customized and adjusted to individual needs. Working with science curriculum developer Education Development Center (EDC), CAST applied this approach to Foundation Science-UDL Physics learning modules that support physics literacy.
All students benefit from Foundation Science-UDL Physics modules as a part of their high school physics experience, but the modules create a learning environment that supports learner diversity and variability by providing different levels of support, feedback, and challenge for each student and multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. Module design incorporates:
- Universal Design for Learning Framework
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C-WAI 1999)
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d)
- The National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM, 2006)
The modules involve eighteen weeks of instruction and provide students and teachers with immediate feedback and just-in-time support. CAST released the modules as an open educational resource.
Common Core State Standards: Foundation Science-UDL Physics modules align to Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts in Science and Technical Subjects.
"I just want to say thank you to CAST for bringing this thing in because I am blind and, you know, I know I can do it.... I can do the physics but mostly we just have books and it just makes everything really hard."
Results Achieved
CAST, Inc. reports that many students who used the Foundation Science-UDL Physics modules made substantial academic gains:
- A statistically significant improvement in physics understanding, and improved motivation for science from the pre-test to the post-test.
- More frequent curriculum use (greater number of sessions) resulted in statistically significantly higher post-test physics scores.
The Grant Project
NGLC funding helped CAST, Inc. to develop, pilot, and refine the Foundation Science-UDL Physics modules. CAST disseminates the modules to physics teachers through its implementation network.
Long Term Goal: To improve science literacy outcomes for all learners and broaden participation in science learning.