Teaching to Diversity

Unfortunately this summer institute has been cancelled as the instructor is no longer available. We apologize for this inconvenience and encourage you to look into our other summer institute options.

This course is appropriate for everyone involved in the education of diverse learners – teachers (of all ages and languages), school leaders, district personnel, educational assistants, clinicians, consultants, and community leaders. Aside from all school divisions, community agencies involved in work with children with disabilities may be interested.

The two biggest initiatives, and challenges, in the field of education in BC are the implementation of inclusion and the new BC curriculum. Teachers are struggling to meet the needs of a very diverse student population, and at the same time implement a new curriculum that is significantly different from all previous BC curricula. In response to the expressed needs of the field, the Special Education department at UBC created a new concentration and set of courses focused on “Supporting Inclusive Education.” In 2017, this institute brought together more than forty educators, including UBC students and teachers from across BC, , for an intensive education on inclusion and how to implement the new curriculum with diverse learners. This summer, we are pleased to once again offer this opportunity to both UBC students and teachers in the field seeking professional development in universally designe

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS

  1. Inclusion means that every child is a part of the social and academic life of the classroom; Every child has the chance to feel good about themselves and what they contribute to the community, experiences a sense of belonging and is challenged to learn and grow in interaction with their peers.
  2. Universal Design for Learning is a conceptual framework for implementing inclusive education.
  3. Social and emotional learning impacts academic learning, and well-being.
  4. Inclusive instructional practice turns learning into a team sport, in which students work together to master complex concepts and skills.
  5. If we are to truly, systematically become an inclusive profession, system, and community – we will have to reflect on many of our policies and practices on a large-scale level.

CONTENT INCLUDES

Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning – What are they?

  1. Social and Academic Inclusion
  2. UDL – what is it?
  3. Updated definitions and frameworks, introduction to the Three Block Model
  4. Research / outcomes of implementation
Inclusive Instructional Practice - Designing learning environments for diverse learners

Block One - Social and Emotional Learning & Mental Health

  • The neurology of learning and its links to social and emotional well-being
  • SEL & Positive Mental Health: Developing well-being, community, leadership and social problem solving
  • Trauma informed teaching and schools

Block Two: Planning for diverse learners through the new BC curriculum

  • Designing learning spaces
  • Year Planning - Finding connections in curriculum in ways that learners on a spectrum of ability, background knowledge, and interests can engage in
  • Universally Designed Unit/Lesson Planning with the new curriculum – Engaging diverse learners in complex concepts, and deep learning (yes, including your modified kids!)
  • Teaching & Engaging Diverse Learners
  • Management of differentiated tasks
  • The flow of assessment and instruction
  • Introducing team/group work
  • Teaching higher order conceptual representation

Block three: Systems and Structures

  • Staff well-being and school culture
  • Issues to consider – budgeting, staffing, scheduling, and more
  • The new BC curriculum and its implications

Dr. Jennifer Katz

Dr. Katz received her PhD in 2008 from the University of British Columbia and is the author of two books on inclusive education and UDL: “Teaching to Diversity: The Three Block Model of Universal Design for Learning”, and “Resource Teacher: A Changing Role in the Three-Block Model of UDL”. Dr. Katz has been a successful sessional lecturer, educational consultant, classroom teacher, editor, and guidance counselor. She taught in diverse classrooms from K-12 in Winnipeg and Vancouver for 16 years, including special education classrooms, inclusive classrooms, youth centres, and alternative high school programs. She works internationally as an advocate of inclusive education with multiple audiences, including university courses, academic conferences, parent advocacy groups, educational conferences, school and division based professional development workshops, and most importantly, direct work with children and youth in schools and alternative settings. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC.

UBC Vancouver | Face-to-Face

Henry Angus Building | map
Room 254
2053 Main Mall
Vancouver BC

July 9-20, 2018

1:00pm - 4:30pm
Monday to Friday

Registration & Fees

Fees for this program, as well as the opening date for registration, will depend upon your registration type or student category.

Unfortunately this summer institute has been cancelled as the instructor is no longer available. We apologize for this inconvenience and encourage you to look into our other summer institute options.

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