My Digital Book on Earth:Opportunities of Digital

Books vs. Barriers of Traditional Books

Libby PszonakFaculty Sponsor:

Dr. Marya Grande

•UDL = Levels the Playing Field

• (from http://www.ginacarson.com/gc/wp-content/uploads

/2010/02/UD-Testing-Cartoon.jpg

What is Universal Design for Learning?

• UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone-- NOT a single, one-size-fits-all solution, but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.(Taken from http://www.cast.org/udl/index.html

Text in Traditional Books• Plain text results in many barriers and limitations especially for students who have learning or visual disabilities.

• None of the text can be modified.

• What you see is what you get.

Principles of the UDL Framework (CAST, 2011)

•Principle 1: • To support recognition learning, provide multiple,

flexible methods of presentation

•Principle 2: • To support strategic learning, provide multiple,

flexible methods of expression and apprenticeship.

•Principle 3: • To support affective learning, provide multiple,

flexible options for engagement.

Visuals in Digital Books• Pictures and videos can be added to pages giving visual learners the opportunity of learning to their full potential.

(This is a video I found on YouTube that I inserted in my digital book. Anyone on this page can click on this video for it to play.)

Text in Digital Books

• Important text and key words can be highlighted to enhance learning.• Text can be enlarged for students who have visual impairments.• Text can be read to students since it can be recorded on a page.•Certain words that are above a student’s reading level may include a text popper giving the definition or displaying a picture of it.•Words can be more attractive and appealing to kids by using different fonts and colors.•Screen readers may also be used to help people who have visual impairments to read the book.

Even More Resources Digital Books Provide

• Links can be added to take kids to different web sites that may give additional information or practice on a certain subject.

• Quizzes and activities can be made up for the kids to see what they learned from the lesson.

• The sidebar gives extra information for students that want to learn more on a subject.

Why are Digital Books Important for Students with

Learning Disabilities?• It gives them the opportunity to reach their potential by addressing the barriers often faced by students with learning difficulties.

• It can reduce frustration.

• It allows them to have extra practice to learn material by taking the quizzes as many times as they want.

• They can learn material in various ways- listening, interacting, as well as reading..