Universal Design is a method of improving the success of teaching and reaching all students, regardless of learning abilities, by offering more than one method for students to access the material. According to Andrew Trotter, "the term ‘digital divide’ generally refers to the disconnect that occurs between those with access to technology and those without, while recognizing the myriad factors that can have an impact on that inequity" (Education Week, Digital Divide 2.0 ). I can effectively integrate Universal Design, and help bridge the Digital Divide in my classroom, by using project-based learning, providing access to computer labs after school for students who may not have access at home, and presenting material in more than one format. For example, providing visual representations along with audio cues can help memory retention as well as capturing the attention of students. Universal Design can also be integrated by presenting assessments in multiple formats, such as
1. What is digital literacy and why is it important? Digital literacy is the ability to understand, utilize, create and learn through digital technologies. This can include using a smart phone, reading from a Kindle, using basic or advanced functions on a computer or navigating a website. It is important because the majority of the world functions using these technologies and more. Therefore, it is necessary for students, teachers, parents and others to have at least a basic knowledge of how to understand and/or use these technologies. 2. What should students be able to do with technology? Students should be able to find information, analyze and assess the validity of a source found online, perform basic functions on a computer, learn to make responsible choices with technology, and how to protect themselves from the vari ous dangers. 3. Why is it important for us to use technology in education? It is important for us to use technology for a few reasons. First, it important