Summer Tech Academy 2014 July 28-30 Argyle Middle School 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
For the past 5 years, HIAT has supported 22 schools as they established professional learning communities (PLCs) to implement UDL in the classroom. Principals, curriculum specialists and teachers have gained knowledge in UDL and shared their reflections through online learning and professional learning communities. The conversations around UDL have been insightful, and have provided many valuable and recorded examples.
The HIAT team, through the leadership of Kathie Lee, UDL Project Specialist, has created avenues for individuals interested in UDL to learn from teachers who are implementing UDL in their classrooms. Please check out Kathie’s UDL Blog to see some examples of UDL in action all around MCPS. If there are topics that you would like to explore or ideas that you want to share from your classroom, please contact a member of the HIAT team.
Harnessing Universal Design for Learning in School-BasedOccupational and Physical Therapy Practice
HIAT team members Eithne Ellis, William McGrath and Cynthia Walsh, presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) 94th Annual Conference and Expo in Baltimore Maryland on April 6th. The title of their session, “Harnessing Universal Design for Learning in School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice” illustrated the two year progression of a UDL Leadership PLC for OTs and PTs in MCPS. This innovative model of professional learning for therapists has supported the integration of UDL into school based practice. The PLC has also enhanced therapists’ leadership in regard to the MCPS curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. Resources from this presentation are available upon request, contact Cynthia Walsh, OT/L.
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For the fourth summer, HIAT is offering the ever popular conference-style technology academy. There will be 16 workshops over three days--July 28-30. Participants can choose to attend up to 2 workshops per day. These classes have historically filled quickly. Preview sessions and their descriptions to decide which of the workshops you’d like to attend then, sign-up on PDO, search “Tech Academy.”
Take note! We have a new venue for the Tech Academy this year: Argyle Middle School.
Everyday UDL Webinar Series
This year HIAT continued the Everyday UDL series with two new webinars. The webinar series is designed to highlight simple UDL “everyday” changes that are relatively easy to incorporate and often result in immediate positive student outcomes. These webinars serve to share how teachers in MCPS have changed their planning and instruction through embracing the principals of UDL. The webinar format is teacher interview with video and images of UDL in action in their classrooms. This year we featured Judie Weisletten, ESOL teacher at Cannon Road Elementary who shared how she incorporates UDL to support students with language barriers and Megan Sullivan/Ricky Tippets who shared how they harness free Web 2.0 tools to guide student inquiry based projects.
7th Annual E-TIPS Event
The 7th annual Educators using Technology to Improve the Performance of Students (E-TIPS) celebration was held on May 28, 2014. This year’s guest speaker was Natalie Roots, teacher at Rosa Parks Middle School. Ms. Roots shared her profoundly moving journey as a student with learning disabilities highlighting the importance of UDL to support all learners. View this motivational speech.
The annual E-TIPS event is held to recognize MCPS staff who achieve E-TIPS Educator or E-TIPS Leadership status. E-TIPS Educators must earn 75 E-TIPS hour in trainings and learning opportunities centered on UDL and technology to support student achievement.
E-Tips Leaders must earn 10 Leadership Points (annually) for specific outreach activities that promote the effective use of technology in their school and beyond. Congratulations to all of the awardees!
In addition, 11 schools were recognized for their active Universal Design for Learning Leadership PLCs under the Expanding Bridges Grant from MSDE.
E-TIPS Educators Craig Crowley, Rosa Parks MS Alisa Berger, Brookhaven ES Harriet Mulongo, Brookhaven ES Deborah Sockol, Herbert Hoover MS
E-TIPS Leaders
Adele Baily, Rocky Hill MS Kaeleigh Barker, Wheaton HS Alisa Berger, Brookhaven ES Kathleen Cumberland, Clearspring ES Charu Kamdar, Physical Disabilities Program Khoa Nguyen, Martin Luther King MS Lisa Norris, Great Seneca Creek ES Kelli Phillips, Argyle MS Suanpan Paweenudh, Dr. Charles Drew ES Carla Ramdat, Clearspring ES Nafissatou Rouzaud,Maryvale ES Abby Stone, Great Seneca Creek ES Candace Strickland,Department of Special Education Erin Swift, Great Seneca Creek ES Kim St. John, Rosa Parks MS Nafissatou Rouzaud,Maryvale ES
he title of their session, “Harnessing Universal Design for Learning in School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice” illustrated the two year progression of a UDL Leadership PLC for OTs and PTs in MCPS. This innovative model of professional learning for therapists has supported the integration of UDL into school based practice. The PLC has also enhanced therapists’ leadership in regard to the MCPS curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. Resources from this presentation are available upon request, contact 
For the fourth summer, HIAT is offering the ever popular conference-style technology academy. There will be 16 workshops over three days--July 28-30. Participants can choose to attend up to 2 workshops per day. These classes have historically filled quickly. 
