Note: Event start time listed in Pacific time.

Webinar Overview:

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shift to remote learning have heightened existing obstacles and surfaced new opportunities to support students with learning differences. Join us for a discussion and Q&A with professor Elizabeth Kozleski, Professor of Education and co-lead for Stanford Graduate School of Education’s Initiative on Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education, alongside James Basham, professor of special education at University of Kansas and Senior Director of Learning & Innovation CAST, and Jose Blackorby, Senior Director of Research and Development at CAST. Drs. Kozleski, Basham, and Blackorby will discuss the latest research, practice, and policy efforts regarding remote learning for students with learning differences in the COVID-19 era and beyond. They will also share strategies for educators, families, and caregivers to support distance learning for all students. Bring your questions; we want to hear from you.

Accommodations:

Real-time captioning will be provided for this event. If you need a disability-related accommodation, please contact Stanford GSE Alumni Relations at gsealumni@stanford.edu. Requests should be made by 5:00pm Pacific on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.

About the Speakers:

Elizabeth Kozleski is a professor (research) of educaton and co-lead for the GSE's Initiative on Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education at Stanford University. Dr. Kozleski engages systems change and research on equity and justice issues in schools, school systems, and with State Education Agencies. Her research interests include the analysis of systems change in education, how practicing teachers learn in complex, diverse school settings, and how educational practices improve student learning. Awards include the 2018 Budig Award for Teaching Excellence in Special Education at the University of Kansas, the 2017 Boeing-Allan Visiting Endowed Chair at Seattle University, the University of Kansas 2016 Woman of Distinction award, the 2013 Scholar of the Century award from the University of Northern Colorado, the 2011 TED-Merrill award for leadership in special education teacher education in 2011, and the UNESCO Chair in Inclusive International Research. She is the recipient of more than $35 million in federal and local research grants. She has leadership roles with CEEDAR and Special Education Leadership in System-wide Equity and Access for Students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds.

James Basham is a professor in the top-ranked department of special education at the University of Kansas. He is also the Senior Director for Learning & Innovation at CAST (http://www.cast.org/) a Boston based research and development non-profit and founders of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Dr. Basham is also one of the cofounders of the UDL Implementation and Research Network (UDL-IRN) a global network of educators, education leaders, researchers, and industry leaders focused on supporting the design of UDL based learning environments. His work is focused on developing future-ready learning environments that are equitable, beneficial, and meaningful for all learners. Dr. Basham has conducted research on UDL relative to its implementation and relationship with STEM/STEAM education, learner-centered design, innovation, online learning, technology, space-design, and human learning. He has served as a consultant for school districts, universities, regional and national education agencies, foundations, and corporate entities. He has secured and managed over $25 million in external funding, is well published, has given hundreds of talks, and serves on various national and international boards for journals, companies, and education organizations.

Jose Blackorby is the Director of Research and Development at CAST and a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). He has been working to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities for more than 20 years.  He has led large-scale national studies, designed assessments, developed innovative technology solutions for UDL and higher order thinking skills, and conducted significant design and experimental research. Relevant to this proposal is his work on national assessments for students with disabilities (including the NAEP) as well as middle school mathematics for students with disabilities. His current work focuses on next generation applications of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in instruction and assessments. Current projects include the development of teacher dashboard for Ismart, a next generation application of DLM in STEM, development of an open source UDL player for digital content called CISL, an efficacy study of an UDL based inquiry science notebook called SNUDLE, and a Google application called CORGI to support higher order thinking skills for struggling learners. He is a current member of the Technical Working Group for the 2020 National Education Technology Plan, and has contributed to the field through publications, products, membership on national advisory boards, as well as higher education teaching at HGSE.