Policy

Upcoming Webinar: Unlocking Potential- A Collaborative Roadmap to Technology Integration in Special Education

By Samantha Goldman | November 27, 2023
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On December 7th, CIDDL will host a panel of faculty members from five of the IHEs that are part of CIDDL’s Tech Alliance to share their plans to enhance technology integration in their special education preparation programs.

Re-designing and Aligning an Intro to Special Education Class to the Framework through Technology Integration: Meaningful Representation

By Samantha Goldman | November 21, 2023
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A stack of books on a table.
This blog series focuses on my experiences as a first time instructor of an introduction to special education course. At the beginning of the semester, I redesigned the course readings to provide options for recruiting interest (engagement), perception (representation), and comprehension (representation). You can learn more about that process in this blog post.

Re-designing and Aligning an Intro to Special Education Class to the UDL Framework through Technology Integration: Minimizing Threats and Distractions

By Samantha Goldman | November 16, 2023
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People around a table working with coffee, water, books on the table.
Minimizing threats and distractions falls within the UDL guidelines for engagement. Afterall, how can teacher educators expect their pre-service teachers to engage in lessons if they do not feel safe within the classroom? This checkpoint focuses on meeting the basic needs of learners.

Virtual Reality to Support Social Emotional Learning

By Samantha Goldman | November 15, 2023
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Student on a laptop with headphones
Teaching social skills in an authentic yet safe environment is a struggle. However, through the use of VR, educators are able to create a virtual environment that resembles the school community and allows for students with and without disabilities to practice needed skills.

CIDDL Talks How AI Will Change Special Education at TED

By Samantha Goldman | November 8, 2023
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Long Beach california skyline at night
This past week, the CIDDL team joined teacher educators throughout the country at the Council for Exceptional Children’s Teacher Education Division’s conference in Long Beach, California. The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI), its impact on policy, teacher education, special education, university students and courses, and our everyday lives was a common theme throughout presentations, keynotes, and conversations.

K-12 Generative AI Readiness Checklist

By Samantha Goldman | October 31, 2023
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A laptop showing a bright screen sits in a dark room.
Leading educational policy and professional organizations are continuing to develop and publish guides to the use of Gen AI in K-12 settings and beyond.

Making a Salad to Explore Multiple Means of Representation

By Samantha Goldman | October 24, 2023
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Ingredients for a salad are laid onto a plate next to salad tongs.
We just started our unit on Universal Design for Learning in my Introduction to Special Education class. First, we talked about the idea of Universal Design in architecture.

Accessibility in Conferencing: Considerations for Higher Education

By Samantha Goldman | October 17, 2023
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A presenter stands in front of a large audience.
As higher education faculty preparing pre-service teachers and related service providers, it is our responsibility to ensure access to resources for all.

Introducing the Tech Alliance

By Samantha Goldman | October 16, 2023
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Members of the CIDDL Tech Alliance pose for a group photo.
The first cohort of the CIDDL Tech Alliance met this past week to design a Technology Integration Plan (TIP) for their programs through a collaborative and iterative process, facilitated by CIDDL staff.

Publishers Respond to Generative AI

By Samantha Goldman | October 11, 2023
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A typewriter sets on a desk next to a vase of flowers.
Just as classroom teachers are considering how ChatGPT will impact their ability to identify plagiarism, publishers are facing similar ethical concerns. The issue can be bubbled down to the fact that AI is not human.