DOE, CAST launch UDL video assessment series

CONCORD- The New Hampshire Department of Education today launched a new video series designed to help teachers connect to students returning to school, understanding where they are on their individual learning pathway through creative formative assessments, and design instruction, both in-person and remote. The Department worked with CAST to develop the series using the groundbreaking Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach which has helped hundreds of New Hampshire educators break down barriers to learning with their students. The six-part video series provides educators with new techniques to assess where students have progressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and where gaps in their education need to be filled.

“New Hampshire schools were responsive in switching to remote instruction in the spring. We know that returning students will have a much greater variation in their learning and these tools will help teachers determine where students are and how they can craft instruction for each child,” said Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. “It is important that we equip our teachers to be as effective as possible with each child, to help develop a learning program that lets them succeed and continue on a path to a bright future.”

The video series includes:

• Intro to Assessment
• Evaluating Assessments
• Grade Level Video: K–2
• Grade Level Video: 3–5
• Grade Level Video: 6–8
• Grade Level Video: 9–12

CAST is also developing a UDL Playbook to accompany the series, and a survey to provide feedback to continually improve the UDL process. The video series is available to the public. Parents working closely with their children in remote instruction may also find UDL techniques useful to assess student performance.

“This video series is a great way to spread the UDL approach to more New Hampshire teachers,” added Amanda Bastoni, an education specialist at CAST who also serves a host for the video series. “The disruption from COVID-19 potentially created gaps that we need to find, and close. Formative assessment is one of the ways we do it.

The UDL video assessment series can be viewed on YouTube.