Democracy+in+Education

=__ Democracy in Education__=

It is our opinion that UDL is predicated on the idea of demoncracy in education. While inclusion eliminated or reduced some barriers to education, students with exceptionalities may be found doing work that is very different from that of other students. The barriers to inclusion are further addressed by UDL.

When applying the prinicples of UDL, these barriers can be eliminated or reduced to various degrees. Teachers need to have access to the technology used by all students for planning and preparing for instruction, student engagement in activities, and for assessment. By modeling the use of AT, as technology that is used by students, all students may be included in the instruction. Selecting activities that promote inclusion, are democratic.

What do we mean by democracy in education? We mean participating in the class discussions, activities, and being including in all aspects of the classroom. Accessibility to the instruction, activities, resources used, and assessment, requires that students be provided the tools that promote accessibility. It is through the selection of tools of the classroom that we can create opportunities for accessibility, increase participation, and promote democracy. Every student is valued, and more importantly their ideas and contributions are equally valued.

Accessibility needs to be considered on many levels, and the class profile helps teachers to develop an understanding of the sorts of tools and approaches that may be needed by students to gain acess to the curriculum. Access may be gained in the traditional sense, but it might be enhanced by other tools. Students with more typical learning profiles may benefit by the increased accessbility. Students with high incidence, low needs, may need text-to-speech software or AT that adresses writing or computational needs, or other resources. The learning profile of these students suggests that technology may greatly enhance their participation. Students with low incidence, high needs, need "cognitive access" to the curriculum. Technology may facilitate students' access to the //big idea or a segment of a grade level expectation.//

How we communicate the value of each student's contribution to the class speaks to democracy in the classroom.

For more information see

John Dewey, educational philosopher, has writtten extensively on Democracy in Education. See John Dewey: Democracy and Education to develop further understanding of this moral imperative. Dr. Larry Hickmanprovides further contemporary insight into the work of Dewey.