Mark Alcorn is a mathematics coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education. Currently, he leads teachers and administrators in developing a deeper understanding of the California Mathematics Standards and their implementation. Before coming to the County Office, Alcorn spent 23 years at elementary school sites in San Diego County teaching K-6 mathematics. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher, and a former San Diego County Teacher of the Year. His belief is that all students are capable of being successful in mathematics.
Mark Alcorn
Presentation Title: Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Essential for Some, Good for All
Strands: Instructional Strategies, MTSS, UDL
Designed for K-12 educators - this workshop will engage participants in experiences and discussions that will allow them to embrace Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a practical approach of ensuring equity in their classroom. Participants will investigate how Todd Rose's, "The Myth of Average" challenges the notion of an "average student", and how this leads to embracing the natural variability of our learners. They will learn how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a practical approach to constructing a viable learning environment that is a response to the myth of an average student. Next, participants will unpack the characteristics of an expert learner from, "Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice" by Anne Meyer et. al. including the example of Felik Zemdegs, world champion of speed cubing. These expert learner characteristics will be used as a foundation to explore the principles of UDL and allow participants to make meaning of the UDL guidelines. Finally, participants will examine the process of connecting UDL with mathematics as a model to identify applications of UDL in their own context, and walk out with an application idea to try out in their setting. Learn how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can reboot learning environments where labels such as "special education student" and "regular student" are replaced with supports to ensure all students become expert learners.
