Using Coaches in Book Builder

Using the "Coach" feature in the

CAST Book Builder

By Ann Paxton and Kim Turner

UDL bookbuilder offers a lot of tools to help make your lesson materials assessable to all students.  In this presentation, we focus on use of coaches and how this feature aligns with the principles of UDL.

 Adding a coach to your book is very simple and can be done by following the steps below.

1. Click on "Edit Book Information"
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and find "Coaches".
3. You can choose up to 3 coaches for your book. 
4. Click "Submit" when you are finished.

Click here for a tutorial on selecting coaches in the CAST UDL Book Builder.

After you choose your coaches, you can start using them in your book by following the steps below:

1. From the "Edit Book" page, Go to the page in the book where you would like to add a coach.
2. Add the information you would like each coach to present in their designated area.  This will activate a coach. 
3. If you don’t give a coach information, the coach will not appear on that page in your finished book. 

Click here for a tutorial on using coaches in the CAST UDL Book Builder.

Checkpoint 3.1 of the UDL checklist is “Activate or supply background knowledge”("Principle I. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression | National Center On Universal Design for Learning,"  n.d.).  A coach is a great way to meet this aspect of UDL. 

Checkpoint 2.3 of the UDL checklist is “Support decoding text, mathematical notation and symbols” ("Principle I. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression | National Center On Universal Design for Learning,"  n.d.).  A coach can also help with this UDL checkpoint.  A coach can be used to explain a mathematical expression or formula in words. 

Checkpoint 3.4 is to “Maximize transfer and generalization ("Principle I. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression | National Center On Universal Design for Learning,"  n.d.). One of the ways to meet this checkpoint is to “prompt the use of mnemonic strategies and devices”. ("Principle I. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression | National Center On Universal Design for Learning,"  n.d.).  A coach is a great way to ensure the content meets this guideline. 

Checkpoint 7.2 is to “Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity.” ("Principle I. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression | National Center On Universal Design for Learning,"  n.d.).   To meet this check point, material in the lesson should be personalized to the student’s lives.  It should also be socially and culturally relevant.  A coach can be used to provide a real world example to students as they are going through the lesson. 

The CAST UDL Book Builder has many built in features that support UDL practices and the diverse needs of learners. Presenting lesson materials to students using the UDL Book Builder allows us to meet a wide range of student vari-ability.  We can coach our students through the lesson and give them the benefit of a virtual teacher.

Resources:

Students telling learning styles [online image]. (n.d.). Retrieved     November 20, 2015 from:  http://attipscast.com/2014/03/21/a-t-tipscast-episode-130-providing-accessible-instructional-materials-story-1/

Students in line reading [online image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2015 from http://www.ok.gov/abletech/Programs_for_Children_and_Youth/Assistive_Technology_&_Information_Services_Program/Accessible_Instructional_Materials.html

Turner, Kim (November 20, 2015). Emma the coach [Snip it] Retrieved from http://bookbuilder.cast.org/create.php?op=edit&book=109384&page=12

Ng, Dylan (October 21,2001). Math [Online Image] Retreived November 20, 2015 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dylanng/6267107370

Coaches [Online Image].  (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2015 from http://cjayneteach.com/blog/2013/03/11/udl-book-builder/

Puskar, Gene (n.d.).  James Franklin, Penn State [Online Image] Retrieved on November 21, 2015 from http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-making-a-difference-coaches-impacts-up-or-down-20151016-photogallery.html

Toner, Billi (May 23, 2011). String tied to finger [Online Image] Retrieved on November 21, 2015 from http://www.getsharepoint.com/blog/Lists/Photos/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=68

Kwong, Ricky (n.d.). Be an individual [Online Image] Retrieved on November 20, 2015 from http://www.coroflot.com/rickyk/Babydoll-Illustrations

Coach nodding [Online Image] (n.d.).  Retrieved November 20, 2015 from http://pickettsmill.typepad.com/pe/petecharrette.html

Activating prior knowledge (n.d.).  [Online Image] Retrieved on November 20, 1015 from http://www2.ku.edu/~onlineacademy/academymodules/a306/lesson/lesson_1/xpages/a306c1_602f10.html

"UDL Guidelines." National Center on Universal Design for Learning. CAST, Inc, 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.Retreived from  http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines/principle2#principle2_g4_c1

Kenney, Joan, Hancewixz, Loretta Heuer, Metsisto, Diana, Tuttle,Cynthia (Oct. 2005).  Literacy Strategies for Improving Mathematices Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/105137/chapters/Mathematics-as-Language.aspx

CAST UDL Book Builder (n.d.). Tips and Features. Retrieved from http://bookbuilder.cast.org/resources.php?p=features