M6: Podcast Reflection by Susanna Soto

Main Topic & Podcast

sisoto2 — 2025-04-09 22:20:37 UTC

I listened to SENIA Happy Hour Podcast: A Tree For All - Conversation with a UDL Expert. With guest speaker Dr. Louie Lord Nelson, who is an internationally recognized leader in UDL learning. The episode focuses on an overview of UDL’s core principles and shares examples of culturally responsive practices.

Three Principles of UDL

sisoto2 — 2025-04-09 22:20:51 UTC

UDL: Universal Designed Learning
"Framework that creates accessible, equitable, and inclusive lessons and learning environment. Its a framework that guides us to do these things" (8:36).
UDL can help anyone that is an instructional leader create accessible, equitable, and inclusive environments

Examples from the Podcast:

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 05:57:44 UTC

UDL can support our ELLs: building relationships with family's despite language barrier through the framework.
Give the guardian and family explicit opportunities to be involved in student's learning through the school, campus, etc.
Communicate with the family verbally and through text. Provides family the chance to use AI tools for translation if needed
Create the school calendar using visual icons to represent major events, helps minimize the barrier of language for the family and student. This makes them feel included and seen.
"Can you say that in a different way?" Ask family and caregiver to ask this empowering question to help open communication.
UDL looks to represent the information and engage the families. Overall, make them feel valued and incorporated in the education.

Notes

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 05:59:37 UTC

UDL can be connected to graphic organizers with three columns: engagement, representation, action in expression
Practices and models of UDL in education and psychology are linked and matched with evidence of helping with how our brain works

Perspectives & Viewpoints:

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 06:13:58 UTC

Design & Deliver: Worked at a school district in Columbus, IN. Led UDL instruction for the school district in 2007. Worked with coaches, administration, teachers, counselors to help them understand UDL in their viewpoint and partner with students.
Discovered the misinterpretations, learning gaps, language barrier through seeing school's perspective. in education.
This experience helped inspire Dr. Louie Lord Nelson's first book
Wanted to give a framework and empowering way for educators to have a tool help them know they are performing UDL correctly in the classroom.

Educator Practice/Advice

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 06:20:31 UTC

Created a coloring book to make the UDL practices more accessible. One side is the tree to color, the other side is the text. Gives a reflect activity and time to process the content.
Card Game: Fishing w/ UDL. Goal is to end up with the nine guidelines and explaining how you would use those cards. Good conversation starters and discussion with other educators.
"It's going to change based on context. UDL is always going to be looking different" (22:10)
UDL in 15 Minutes: Podcast about educators being interviewed on their own experience with UDL. Guests send in additional artifacts and resources.

Trends

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 06:34:02 UTC

The common trend of teacher's feeling like they aren't teaching right or feeling unsure. UDL helps empower teachers.
UDL is a global movement, the podcast talks about partnership with colleagues in Japan to expand the audience to UDL
UDL is a trending movement globally in education because of the flexibility and three principles. UDL removes barriers in education worldwide, can help fill gaps for all.

Personal Reflection

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 06:41:50 UTC

This podcast expanded my knowledge on UDL in a clear and explicit manner. The form Dr.Nelson explains UDL and her experience was eye-opening. It was very informative and can truly see the important of UDL. I briefly remembered UDL since we've discussed it in class, however this podcast refreshed my thoughts and built my awareness. This podcast shifted my perspective on the significance of the three principles of UDL, UDL challenges accommodating only for a few, but rather for all students. meeting I can see how flexible and beneficial this framework of education is for all education, not only special education. Dr. Nelson gave serval resources that made me feel more confident on how to implement UDL in the classroom in the future. This podcast emphasized how UDL isn't limited to the United States, but rather is a global movement with evidence supporting it's efficiency.

Own Goals

sisoto2 — 2025-04-16 06:51:50 UTC

Overall, this podcast deeply resonated with me because of my own goals as a future educator. The podcast highlighting Universal Designed Learning is key because of what UDL represents and aims to focus on in education. The use of UDL in the classroom aligns with my aim to support all students in my class, from the beginning, especially those with disabilities. This podcast validated my beliefs in flexible teaching and being intentional in lesson planning to meet each students needs by providing engaging opportunities for their learning. This podcast shined a light on ELLs and how to help them, which I loved. I have worked with many ELLs and incorporating their families was a strategy I loved to hear. My goal is to have family involved and provide chances for them to be an active participant in the classroom, school, etc. if possible. This typically helps motivate the student's learning. Altogether, this podcast was in sync with my goals of having an engaging and inclusive classroom environment, where all students feel valued and represented.