Changing the world……by 2013?!
Ahh, realistically speaking….every transition always takes time, so while I cannot guarantee you one can change the world universally designing 100% by 2013, progresses can be initiated and continued on for further developments. Among what is possible to expect by 2013 is everyone and everything will be technologically dependent. Schools, educators, businesses, professionals, parents, children….even car mechanics. By then, everyone will have access to the internet (in terms of developed nations, although this is expected to change for the developing nations in the next decade or so), but does it mean it will be universally accessible and learning for everyone? No, not completely. We will continually expand more diverse learners, old and new, that will lead us to develop different strategies on how to effectively work with them.
Sidetracking for a second here…I find it an irony that while the concept of UDL stems from the development of Universal Design, it seems that the future is more reliance on immersing UDL than its original model of making everywhere physically accessible. What I mean by this is that by 2013, it is possible that Universal Design for Learning and Universal Design of Instruction will become more accessible than Universal Design because of the ever changing trends in technology usage. If we make the internet universally accessible, there may be no need for some people to physically leave their homes. People can pursue their education through distance learning. Movies can be downloaded online. Webcams, live chat, blogs, Facebook, Myspace–they all enable users to create and build their social networks. Even shopping can be done online as well.
This will question how teachers will need to develop different strategies to deliver their instructions tailored to not just their students’ needs, but also different technology trends being used that can be beneficial for both the students and teachers. With my interest in distance education, it is imperative to be aware of what technology tools are available that can be made accessible for future teachers and students to use in delivering and receiving instruction. One may think, teaching an online course is easy and anyone could take it. Yea….in a perfect world, that is. Realistically speaking, there are many considerations that needs to be factored in when delivering contents to students online–and this will continually evolve over the years. I know that what inaccessible issues we have now can be resolved by 2013, but we will also have new, emerging issues to tackle down as well. This is something that will never end. As long as we, educators, continue to make and show efforts in making the teaching and learning environment universally accessible for everyone.
on June 29, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Well-reasoned, as we have come to expect from Leyla
Interesting juxtaposition of the development of UDL and UD and how the development of one may impact the other.
From a big picture perspective (which you have adopted quite well) one might wonder what the students of tomorrow-if they grow up with educational experiences characterized by multiple, flexible forms of representation, expression, and engagement-will expect as consumers and workers. Hmmm…
on June 29, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I concur with Susanne. Leyla, you’ve articulated this very nicely. I’m hopeful that the world my current three year old nephew grows into is one that appreciates his multiple intelligences, his creative and boundless energy, and his insatiable appetite to explore and learn. But I worry that when he reaches a structured classroom that this may not be the case. That will occur in less than three years. Your point is well made, regardless of the growth, it will be the onus on the educator to capture these tools and use them effectively. It will also be the responsibility of learners to ask for what they need and expect…something I’m more encouraged will happen in five more years with the explosion and awareness of UDL.
on June 30, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I think your point about the world being technologically dependent yet not fully accessible to everyone goes along with a point Fran and Suzanne stated at the very beginning of the class. They prefaced the course by acknowledging that there are currently many set backs to the UDL movement; however, in the course we would focus on the “have” instead of “have nots.” I thought that was a great way to begin the course and highlighted the attitude to parallel the teachings of UDL. Unfortunately, there will probably always be set back with lack of technology for some. It is important however to continue the march ahead.
on July 1, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I never considered the fact that increasing technology could surpass many of the needs that are addressed with Universal Design. We could literally do everything from our own homes, thus decreasing the need to address peoples’ physical needs (in public places at least-we’d still need UD in homes). As always, it is interesting to see these things evolve. Wherever Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning (especially the technological part) takes us, it’s very exciting.
on August 6, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Leyla,
That truly is an intriguing thought about UDL emerging past its “predcessors.” I love how you wrote that “taking an online course” is easier in many peoples’ opinions. I have never done worse than when I’ve taken online courses! (No offense
They are difficult for many reasons.
on August 8, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Hey Leyla –
I totally think you may be right in that technology’s bridges may surpass those erected in universal design in architecture. Adding to your thoughts, I’d like to say that I see one HUGE hurdle that technology may, in some ways, only make worse. If our main contact with the world is through a computer, I’m sure you’d agree, our “human connection” diminishes. And with that, our awareness of and acceptance of differences. I’m not sure if it’s so wonderful that everyone in cyberspace appears similar, you know. From one perspective, such a homogeneous perspective diminishes the individual characteristics and individual learning styles that we need to acknowledge to enact a more UDL world.
If you don’t mind me saying, having you in class taught me several things. As “knowledgeable” as I like to think I am, I am not. And I forget to hit myself over the head occasionally and think more broadly and remember that in technology usage we are not homogeneous. We have different preferences… and different needs. The guilty truth is that I just created a video for the assignment #4 that, sadly, may not be accessible for you (I couldn’t get the captions to work). I didn’t plan it that way, but the technology failed and wouldn’t allow me to do what I had planned. And because I didn’t have the tools I needed (including time) my efforts became just one more instance of cyberspace glossing over our differences in a one-size fits all way and, ultimately, leaving people out. I guess I am apologizing for that and making a pledge to not be part of the glossing-over as much as I am humanly capable of fighting. And I’ll fix my video at my first opportunity.
I’m sure you’d agree that it wasn’t just the content of the books and handouts and powerpoints that taught us in class. It was also meeting each other.
I’d love to hear how you “do this” in your international work when the distances are so far that cyberspace is often the only meeting space available.
-jenn