Issue Number 7: March 4, 2002

CAST National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning News

Greetings, Readers

The Electronic Newsletter offers news about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and provides opportunities for sharing ideas with other professionals through the "MyCAST" Forum and on-line surveys. Since you are important to the success of this newsletter, we appreciate receiving feedback and comments. Please feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues.

In this issue, we highlight articles that focus on literacy instruction and materials that support the diverse learning needs of all students. Our hope is that the following information will offer you ideas and activities that you can use in your work with all learners. We would love to hear from you; please feel free to offer comments through your "My CAST" account.

Special Event For Consortium Members

Dr. David Rose and Dr. Anne Meyer, Co-Executive Directors of CAST will present an overview of Universal Design for Learning and its application in classroom practice. There will be a book signing of the forthcoming book: "Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning," May 9 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. This event will be held at CAST, located in Peabody Massachusetts and is limited to 50 Consortium members.

If interested, please RSVP to gmeo@cast.org

1. Teachers Speak Out...
2. "Learning to Read in the Computer Age"
3. Online Comprehension Resources
4. Varied Approaches to Increasing Reading Comprehension
5. The Role of the Computer in the English Arts Program
6. Jumping Off the Page
7. Learning Comprehension Strategies in Digital Text
8. Thinking Reader: Using Digital Picture Books to Support Early Literacy
9. Professional Development Opportunities
10. **Announcement - Book Release**
11. Survey Results
12. Newsletter Archive
13. "On the Road" with CAST

1. Teachers Speak Out...

Learn about successful curriculum practices that combine technology and literacy from award-winning teachers:
http://www.readingonline.org/articles/art_index.asp?HREF=/articles/voices/

2. "Learning To Read In The Computer Age"

What do I need to know about using computer technology to teach reading? Check out "Learning to Read in the Computer Age," an on-line book that will help teachers learn about the theories and uses of computers for the teaching of reading.
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=18

3. Online Comprehension Resources

Link to many online resources to improve reading comprehension:
http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?HREF=/editorial/may2001/index.html

4. Varied Approaches To Increasing Reading Comprehension

Have you ever asked yourself, "What is the best way to teach reading comprehension?" Michael Pressley not only presents research-based approaches to reading comprehension but also directs us to emerging practices. Comprehension Instruction:
http://www.readingonline.org/articles/art_index.asp?HREF=handbook/pressley/index.html

5. The Role Of The Computer In English Language Arts

Read about the potential roles that the computer can play in the Language Arts classroom based on surveys, interviews, and classroom observations of upper elementary and middle school students:
http://www.nereading.org/standardsArticle/abstract.htm

6. Jumping Off The Page

Find out if the design of traditional textbooks makes a difference for high school students with learning disabilities. Bart Pisha and Peggy Coyne report on the benefits of using contemporary multimedia technology to meet the needs of diverse learners in high school social studies.
http://www.readingonline.org/articles/art_index.asp?HREF=/articles/pisha/index.html

7. Learning Comprehension Strategies In Digital Text

Read about this CAST initiative! Technology-based reading environments have the potential to maximize successful reading comprehension instruction by helping teachers overcome barriers related to minimal time and resources. Learn about this research project, funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs.
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2659

8. New Cast Initiative: Thinking Reader: Using Digital Picture Books To Support Early Literacy

Learn more about what CAST is developing! CAST is developing universally designed digital picture books to support beginning reading in children with mental retardation:
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2660

9. Professional Development Opportunities

Join us this spring and summer, become a UDL Institute Fellow and become knowledgeable in Web Accessibility to ensure that ALL users will have full access to your information. CAST is offering a number of very exciting Professional Development opportunities. Learn about Universal Design for Learning! Create your own ACCESSIBLE Web sites.

For more information, dates and times, e-mail CAST at pd@cast.org or visit the online listing:
http://www.cast.org/pd

10. **Announcement - Book Release**

"Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning," by Anne Meyer and David Rose will be released by Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) in late April 2002. The book reflects insights from 15 years of CAST's research and development, laying the foundation for the concept of Universal Design for Learning and its practical application in the classroom. The companion website will provide multimedia extensions and examples of the book, and offer interactive professional development support for learning about and applying UDL concepts.

11. Survey Results

Thank you to all who responded to the Computer Use Survey. Results are in:
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2578

12. Newsletter Archive

This issue: http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2785
Online archive of the Consortium newsletter: http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=1100
Online edition of the MyCAST news: http://www.cast.org/mycast/index.cfm?i=1080

13. "On The Road" With Cast

Members of the CAST staff present at many conferences throughout the year. If CAST is in your area, you might like to stop in at one of these presentations.

• Conference: Griffin Technical Institute
  Location: Griffin, Georgia
  URL: http://www.griffin.tec.ga.us/
  Date: March 20, 2002
  Presenters: Bart Pisha, Boo Murray
  

• Conference: FETC (Florida Educational Technology Conference)
  Location: Orlando, Florida
  URL: http://www.fetc.org/
  Date: March 6-8, 2002
  Booth: Nancy Schick
  

• Conference: ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)
  Location: San Antonio, Texas
  URL: http://www.ascd.org/frameconferences.html
  Date: March 9-10, 2002
  Presenters: David Rose; Grace Meo
  

• Conference: Educational Congress of the Puerto Rico
  Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Education
  Location: Puerto Rico
  URL: http://cetp.crci.uprr.pr
  Date: March 15, 2002
  Presenter: Boo Murray
  

• Conference: Massachusetts Reading Association
  Location: Sturbridge, MA
  URL: http://www.massreading.org/
  Date: March 18, 2002
  

• Conference: International Dyslexia Association
  URL: http://www.interdys.org/index.htm
  Location: New York, NY
  Date: March 22-23, 2002
  Presenter: Bart Pisha
  

• Conference: CSUN (California State University at Northridge)
  Location: Los Angeles, CA
  URL: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf2002/genconfinfo.html
  Date: March 23, 2002
  Booth: Nancy Schick
  

• Conference: LD Network Conference
  Location: Randolph, MA
  URL: http://www.ldnetwork.org/professional.html#spring
  Date: March 9, 2002
  Presenter: Bart Pisha
  

• Conference: Center for Educational Leadership
  Location: Cleveland, Ohio
  Date: April 11, 2002
  Presenters: Peggy Coyne, David Rose, Grace Meo
  

• Conference: Forman School
  Location: Litchfield, Connecticut
  Date: April 17, 2002
  Presenter: Bart Pisha
  

• Conference: IRA (International Reading Association)
  URL: http://www.reading.org/2002/
  Location: San Francisco, California
  Date: April 28, 2002
  Presenter: Peggy Coyne, Bridget Dalton
  Booth: Nancy Schick
  

Thank you for your interest in CAST and our work.

Grace J. Meo
Co-Director of the National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning