TRRE Residents Explore the Relationship between Curriculum, Assessment and Universal Design for Learning

Breaking down barriers to learning by TRRE residents Mitra Karimian and Alexz Steiner

On January 18, 2019, the new semester kicked off with a spring symposium on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Curriculum and Assessment. The symposium took place at North Country Education Services, and brought together TRRE Cohort 2 residents, faculty, and a panel of educators involved in the New Hampshire Universal Design for Learning network connected virtually to the group.

What is a TRRE symposium?  

TRRE Resident model of a UDL perspective by Jamie Knight and Michaela Roberts

Each TRRE symposium aims to address topics that cut across coursework, school-based residency experiences, and the rural communities in which residents teach. According to Kathryn McCurdy, TRRE Director of Mentoring and Induction, “One of the hopes of our work with residents is that their coursework, their school residency, and their experiences in their communities are thoughtfully and intentionally integrated. That all these experiences ‘speak to each other.’ The symposia offer a rich opportunity for these cross conversations and to see each of us (residents, team members, mentors, community members) in multiple contexts. The symposia offer opportunities to break down any silos that may exist across the many dimensions of learning to teach.”

This spring, residents are completing their school-based residencies with teaching mentors in partnership schools in SAUs 3 (Berlin), 35 (White Mountains), 36 (White Mountains Regional), and 58 (Northumberland-Stark-Statford) four days a week. On top of that, residents are also completing UNH graduate coursework including: “Residency Seminar” and “Elementary Social Studies Methods” with TRRE Director of Pedagogy and Clinical Practice & Faculty in Residence, Tom Schram, “Exploring Mathematics with Young Children” with TRRE Director of Mentoring Kathryn McCurdy, and “Introduction to Assessment” with TRRE Co-Principal Investigator, Emilie Reagan. 

What happened during the symposium on Universal Design for Learning, Curriculum and Assessment?

During the symposium, residents and faculty participated in a number of shared activities linking the three concepts. In a gallery walk, residents modeled their understandings of UDL, curriculum and assessment. TRRE graduate assistant and UDL expert, Beth Fornauf, framed the relationship of UDL, curriculum, and assessment through readings and professional experiences. From there, residents participated in a “barrier analysis” analyzing learning opportunities, tasks, and environments that might pose barriers to student learning in their residency placements. They heard from Greg Amend (ELA teacher at Vilas Middle School and New Hampshire UDL scholar), Sondra Brake (principal at Plainfield Elementary School), Steve Chamberlin (Superintendent of Hopkinton School District), and Susan Shapiro (CAST UDL implementation specialist) on how they are implementing concepts of UDL in the schools, districts, and across the state.

The symposium culminated with the residents visually representing their understandings of the relationship between these concepts.

What’s next for the TRRE symposia?

On March 8, TRRE residents and faculty came together for a second spring symposium focused on analyzing student work. It was another powerful day of collaboration, reflection and practice.

Interested in participating in a future TRRE symposium?

If you are a member of the TRRE community (e.g., teaching mentor, school, UNH or community-based partner), we would love to include you in future TRRE symposia! Please contact TRRE Program Coordinator, Jen Baker at  Jennifer.baker@unh.edu.

View Greg Amend's video: The Importance of Inclusive Education -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBoagGNSTd4