Design All the Way to the Edges: Maximizing Student Agency and Inclusivity Through Intentional Instructional Design

Audience Level: 
All
Session Time Slot(s): 
Institutional Level: 
K-12
Streamed: 
Onsite
Special Session: 
Leadership
Diversity & Inclusion
Abstract: 

With the world rapidly changing around us, we're tasked with adapting our teaching methods to keep up with new technology, societal shifts, and unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. In this workshop, we will explore the power of Effectively Designed Instruction (EDI) to personalize student learning and cater to diverse student needs across all course modalities: face-to-face, online, and blended.

Extended Abstract: 

As educators, we hold ourselves to extremely high standards, striving to provide the best possible learning experiences for our students. At the same time, we face mounting expectations from various stakeholders, including our school communities, policymakers, and even society itself. It's a delicate balance, and we often find ourselves caught in the middle, navigating the pressures of our profession. 

From the relentless pressures of No Child Left Behind to the latest Danielson evaluation framework, the ever-evolving landscape of education can leave many educators feeling like they're carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. With the world rapidly changing around us, we're tasked with adapting our teaching methods to keep up with new technology, societal shifts, and unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

But what if there were a way to not only meet these high expectations but to excel in the midst of them? In this book, we'll explore practical strategies and innovative approaches that will empower you to rise above the challenges and create a learning environment where both you and your students can thrive. 

In this presentation, you will explore the power of Effectively Designed Instruction (EDI) to personalize student learning and cater to diverse student needs across all course modalities: traditional face-to-face, online, and everywhere in between. The four main themes of EDI – Building Interactions, Designing Experiences, Presenting Content, and Accessibility and Inclusion.

EDI is a dynamic approach to teaching and learning that integrates key components from major educational frameworks in use today, organizing them into four easy-to-understand themes. Each theme offers actionable strategies adaptable to any learning environment, whether teaching in the traditional classroom or in a different setting, EDI will give you the tools necessary to maximize student agency and inclusivity.

By synthesizing the eight components of the Future Ready Framework, the three principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the three stages of Understanding by Design (UbD), and a variety of Differentiated Instruction (DI) practices, EDI ties together these seemingly independent educational approaches. It also incorporates the findings of renowned researchers such as Hattie, Marzano, Borup, and others.

Don't let modern education's challenges hinder your ability to provide the best learning experiences for your students. Let this workshop guide you in crafting more effective and engaging lessons for your traditional, online, or blended classroom. With this book by your side, you can empower your students to reach their full potential and create a lasting, positive impact on their lives.

 
Conference Session: 
Concurrent Session 10
Conference Track: 
Engaged and Effective Teaching and Learning
Session Type: 
Education Session
Intended Audience: 
Administrators
Design Thinkers
Faculty
Instructional Support
Training Professionals
All Attendees