Winter 2017 Newsletter
ISTE Inclusive Learning Network
President's Message
[image on left: photo of Susie Gronseth, Inclusive LN President]
Greetings!
The Inclusive Learning Network is excited to share some recent and upcoming events and resources relating to making learning more inclusive. This past fall, the Inclusive LN offered several professional learning opportunities. In November, we participated in World Usability Day, hosting a slow Twitter chat and webinar on accessibility features and applications of iOS 10, Google Chrome, and Windows 10. In December, we teamed up with the STEM Network to present a webinar on the latest technologies for engaging all learners in STEM topics. Recordings of these sessions and links to the many resources available at on the Professional Learning page of the Inclusive LN website.
During the month of February, we will be accepting nominations for our annual Inclusive LN Outstanding Educator Award that honors an individual who exemplifies the vision and mission of the Inclusive LN - "enhancing opportunities for ALL learners through effective practices and technology resources." Nominations (including self-nominations) will be considered for anyone working in various educational settings, including but not limited to Pre-K-12, higher education, non-profit, and industry.
We are gearing up for ISTE 2017 in June. We reviewed and recommended many excellent conference sessions and are excited about the upcoming Inclusive LN Playground and panel presentation. There is always room for more volunteers, so let us know if would like become more involved.
Susie Gronseth
Inclusive Learning Network President
Tool Spotlight: FreshGrade
[image on right: FreshGrade logo]
FreshGrade is a free portfolio and formative assessment tool that can help meet the needs of every learner. Along with a desktop version there are three apps for teachers, students and parents.
Teachers use the platform to create activities that provide students with multiple means of accessing information through a variety of media. If needed they can create mini-lessons or differentiated activities and share with a select group of students. Activities can easily be aligned with standards and tagged for skills such as collaboration or initiative.
To support formative assessment teachers can use the built in assessment tools within the platform as well as the ability to create anecdotal responses that are private (for teacher records) or shared with the student (and parents/guardians).
If you are moving away from grades (at least within your classroom) FreshGrade has a summary report option that can be personalized for each student, as well as a slideshow option to visually show growth over time. This is especially beneficial for learners who may struggle with grade level expectations but demonstrate improvement and growth.
Using the student app, students can easily upload a variety of multimedia to their portfolio as well as write reflections on their learning in response to teacher created activities. In the district version, these portfolios travel with students across grades, informing next year’s teacher and creating a permanent archive of learning. In addition students can also independently upload their thoughts, ideas and projects giving them a place to document their passions and interests.
Finally, parents are also invited to the conversation through the parent app. Parents get notification in real-time. They can view their child’s post as well as write comments in response. One parent of an autistic child got notification complete with video of their child making eye contact with non-family members for the first time. Not only were they able to see the event in (almost) real-time but they were able to come to the school to join in the event.
Thought-Leader Spotlight: Karen Janowski
[image on left: Photo of Karen Janowski]
If you are familiar with Universal Design for Learning, you are probably familiar with the name Karen Janowski. Her UDL Tech Toolkit wiki was one of the first resources created to support teachers in finding tools to use in a UDL classroom. Karen is an Assistive & Educational Technology Consultant, and Adjunct Professor at Simmons College in Boston, MA. She presents both locally and nationally about the importance of using ubiquitous technologies which remove the obstacles to learning for all students and is a passionate advocate of Universal Design for Learning. She is an EdCampBoston and EdCampAccess organizer and co-moderates #ATchat on Twitter.
Be sure to check out Karen's blog, EdTech Solutions: Teaching Every Student.
Inclusive Learning Advocacy Update
Book Study: UDL in the Cloud!
Inclusive Learning News & Info
[image on right: Ed Roberts honored in a Google Doodle]
On January 23rd, Google celebrated the birthday of Ed Roberts (1939-1995), a pioneering leader in the disability rights movement. Roberts, who had polio, joked: “If I’m a vegetable, I’m going to be an artichoke, prickly on the outside, with a big heart in the middle.” Roberts was a strong advocate for people with disabilities, from their inclusion in higher education to their right to live independently. In addition to the Doodle, Google Arts and Culture commemorated his work and the work of activists in the disability rights movement. Take a look at the timeline.
Creating Accessible Content with Microsoft
Download a helpful poster from Microsoft to learn more about how to create accessible content. As a leader in inclusive design, Microsoft often shares helpful tips and stories on Twitter at @MSFTEnable about their work in inclusive design.
New Chromebooks for Education from Google
Google recently announced two new Chromebook models for education. What is new about the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 and the Asus Chromebook Flip C213 is that both support a stylus for note-taking and drawing as well as what Google is calling a “world facing camera.” Depending on the quality of this camera, it could open even more creative possibilities for our students to express themselves through photos and video. The camera is built on the keyboard side of the device so that students can hold it like a tablet while they are shooting video.
Amazon Echo as an Accessibility Support
Interested in getting started with Internet of Things with an Amazon Echo? Check out this blog post by Inclusive LN’s Luis Perez focusing on the Echo as an accessibility support. At the end of the post, a closed captioned video shows how the Echo can even be used by people with limited speech using AAC apps.
Upcoming Events
November 16 - 17, 2017 | Warwick, RI
Established in 1988, Rhode Island’s statewide and regional conference on assistive technology has highlighted the important role that technology plays to support equity and inclusion in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Call for proposals is now open!
#ECET2 (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching)
March 26, 8pm ET | Twitter chat hosted by Luis Perez
Topic: We All Vary - Technology to Support Diverse Learners
Why Not An Edcamp?: Interdepartmental Collaboration Done Well
Rhianon Gutierrez
March 1, 7pm ET
In this 30 minute webinar, Gutierrez shares how the technology and special education departments in her district worked together to collaborate on an Edcamp.
March 30-31, 2017 | Orlando, FL
The intent of this summit is to gather practitioners, leaders, researchers, vendors, and other stakeholder from across the globe to build networks that support the implementation of UDL in preschool, K-12, and higher education. For the last three years, the UDL-IRN Summit has proved to be an excellent opportunity to build professional networks, to discuss research, and to share resources and lessons learned. This year, the summit will continue to be a unique opportunity to network and collaborate with educational leaders, practitioners, and researchers who are actively engaged in UDL implementation efforts. In addition to UDL Talks, concurrent breakout sessions, Networking Session and Design Labs, this year we will host multiple pre-conference sessions.
CAST's 3rd Annual UDL Symposium: UDL for Social Justice
July 31 - August 2, 2017 | UMass Boston, MA
Providing high quality education is a matter of social justice, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an innovative framework that supports all learners –regardless of socioeconomic, cultural, gender, language, cognitive, physical, and emotional background— by providing exceptional, rigorous learning opportunities. UDL proactively infuses opportunities for learners to overcome barriers and ensure that “learning has no limits.” Call for proposals due February 15.
Inclusive Learning Network Award Nominations Now Open!
Nominations are now open for the Inclusive Learning Network (ILN) Outstanding Educator Award! Nominate yourself or a colleague today via the 2017 InclusiveLN Award form.
The Inclusive Learning Network Outstanding Educator Award honors an individual who exemplifies the vision and mission of the Inclusive LN - "enhancing opportunities for ALL learners through effective practices and technology resources." Nominations will be considered from individuals working in various educational settings, including but not limited to Pre-K-12, higher education, non-profit, and industry.
Last year’s winner, Luis Pérez, continues to be a leader in our field and active member of the Inclusive LN, consulting and presenting around the world on inclusive learning issues and co-chairing the Professional Learning and Conference Proposal Review committees. His ongoing commitment to inclusive learning truly exemplifies the intent of the award.
The call for nominations runs through to the end of February. The winner will be honored in a variety of ways:
Award presented at ISTE 2017 PLN Leaders Breakfast
Blog posts honoring award recipients
ISTE social media posts
Complimentary one-year standard ISTE membership
Press release from ISTE
There will be ONE winner, but ALL nominees will be honored. Nominations will be shared with the Inclusive Learning Network Community via Social Media and the Inclusive LN website - A wonderful way to showcase exemplary work in this field!
ISTE Inclusive Learning Network
Join the ISTE Inclusive Learning Network.
Email: setsig@gmail.com
Website: http://www.inclusiveln.org
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Twitter: @InclusiveLN