Kathleen McClaskey has written several books on learning, is the CEO & Chief Learning Officer at Empower Learner and founder of Make Learning Personal. Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles is also well versed in UDL and works with McClaskey as well as is a consultant. They presented on “Learners with Voice: Creating Pathways for Agency and Self-Advocacy” at the CAST UDL Symposium. They shared their slides at: https://bit.ly/CAST22McClaskeyHGF
McClaskey introduced research from the science of learning and helped build the Empower the Learner framework. Identity leads to skills and outcomes. Goldthwait-Fowles spoke about the three step “Empower the Learner” process. They illustrated the process though a diagram with Identity (ETL Profile) connected to skills (Personal Learning Backpack) and then outcomes (Personal Learning Plan). For identity, three elements make up the profile: who I am through sentence starters.The how I learn component McClaskey spoke about the “UDL Lens of Access, Engage, and Express. McClaskey stated that “identity is the on-ramp for student discover” Goldthwait-Fowles shared examples of checklists to personalize learning. They also mentioned using ed tech cools such as Read&Write. Several examples and resources were shared at: https://wake.it/w/s/59F8Xg They also shared a diagram to start with defining strengths and challenges to provide access, engage, and express and then to link to supplementary services, if needed. To develop and support leaners, learner voice was emphasized. McClaskey said: “create that inclusive environment” and shared the Empower the Learner Profile in Book Creator. I’ll have to check it out and their website and resources shared.
