Universal Design for Learning: Health Education Project
Timeline: January 5, 2009- May 21, 2010
Contact Teacher: Don Jones
[email protected]

The project goal was to provide and implement changes within the health education classroom, to improve internet text support, and open up relevant educational websites pertaining to health and physical education that were blocked.

GOALS:

OBJECTIVES	IMPLEMENTATION
Technology Submit a request to purchase or find four laptop computers not being used around the school.	Found 4 old laptop computers for health classroom.
Technology Send a list to the technology staff at central office, so that sites we need to implement UDL will not be blocked.	Rita Cunningham sent our list to the technology staff at central office. Some sites continue to be blocked however, we have been able to save programs on a thumbdrive and load these onto our computers as needed.
Technology Ask technology staff to update computers in the health education classroom with anything needed to run software for UDL tools.	Will run all updates over the summer and will add other programs. Will send a list to the technology staff if needed.
Technology Provide a list of tools, websites, and information about technology available for use by students to the Health Education Department.	This website has been created. This site will be connected to our school website over the summer giving more people access to it.
Teacher Training The four of us trained in UDL at our school will each train others. The health education department will be the responsibility of Don Jones.	Training will be provided to the health education department during our regular monthly department meetings. Don Jones-available for continual training and assistance as needed to the Health Education Department.
Teacher Training Health education will be directly involved in making regular curriculum UDL. The UDL resource website will be linked to our OMS and district websites.	Examples of lessons for health education will be included on the TEACHER SUBMITTED main page this summer. Emphasis was on planning for ALL students up front rather than making accommodations after planning has taken place. Focus was also on reducing barriers for students without labeled disabilities.
Funding Ask if any Title I funds are available to purchase digital cameras, video camera, scanner, headphones, and computer mics.	Seek a grant for next year for digital cameras and a video camera.
Parent Training Present at technology night, April 13, 2010 introducing the principles of UDL and showing how we are implementing it in the classrooms, along with resources available to them at home.	Jenny McAlister presented the principles of UDL at technology night, April 13, 2010 to the parents of 8th graders who all participate in health education. Parents were able to see and experience several of the tools we are currently using including the Virtual Magnifier, CleverKeys, Cast Book Builder, and the Book Share program. This website was given to parents as a resource for them to find other tools that their students might benefit from using.
Administrative Training Introduce administrators to the principles of UDL and enlist their support in implementing changes. Enlist their support for professional development, teacher training, and release time to do this training and implement other parts of this plan.	The four of us trained in UDL at Opelika Middle School presented the principles of UDL to the faculty and administrators on a professional development day, April 9, 2010. All administrators were present. Administrators were supportive of all implementation of UDL principles during the 2009-2010 school year.

RESULTS:

The results of this project have met the desired goals of this school year to simply integrate UDL in some way into the Health Education Department curriculum in hopes that next year we can make it a school-wide impact. Here are a few of the results of this project.

• Health Education Department has been trained and now using CAST Science Writer, CleverKeys, and the Virtual Magnifier.



• Teachers school-wide have been trained on the principles of UDL and have access to the list of tools on the website.



• Parents have been introduced to the principles of UDL and have access to the list of tools on this website.