We are so pleased to announce that the MSD of Steuben County has been awarded another grant from the Indiana Department of Education; this time for the year one, district-wide rollout of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles!
According to CAST, the originator of UDL, Universal Design for Learning is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. CAST explains its origins on its website, which date back to 1984! "1984 was a year of exceptional promise in technology and education. While personal computers such as the Macintosh began to reshape everyday life and work, school reform became a hot topic nationwide with special emphasis on educating all learners to high standards. The same year, a small band of education researchers founded CAST, the Center for Applied Special Technology, to explore ways of using new technologies to provide better educational experiences to students with disabilities. As CAST researchers tested and refined their principles, priorities, and vision over that first decade, they came to a new understanding of how to improve education using flexible methods and materials. They called this approach Universal Design for Learning." You can learn more about UDL at https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl
MSDSC will partner with CAST for the year-long implementation, with workshops for administrators and self-selected teacher leaders, who will become the guiding coalition for UDL in the district. With workshops throughout the year and instructional rounds with one another, this core group will sustain the initiative for years to come. All teachers will also be compensated for their time in the process through the grant funds. You can learn more about the 2024 Digital Learning Grant and view the other recipients at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iuL82KMQqunre29WpYyV7msyWiBycUQI/view?utm_name=