Learn how to implement UDL in your learning environment through a universally designed online course.
Professional Development
Novak Educational Consulting is the premier organization for designing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based professional development on multi-tiered systems of support, evidence-based tiered interventions, evidence-based literacy models, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and effective leadership practices. Our presenters are completely flexible and can design any type of presentation to meet your needs.
Online Courses
Without the proper supports, professional development, and resources, it can be difficult – if not impossible – to improve your teaching game. And even when professional development is available, it sometimes falls short. Our response is to provide universally designed online courses to help you better understand UDL, MTSS, and inclusive practice. Courses will provide you with the theory you need but will focus on practical methods for improving daily practice.
Books
Katie Novak, President of Novak Educational Consultants, has authored six books on UDL, selling more than 50,000 copies worldwide. In her newest book with George Couros, Katie provides practical insights and savvy strategies for helping all learners meet high standards using the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) alongside the Innovator’s Mindset.
Our Consultants
Novak Educational Consulting is the premier organization for designing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based professional development on multi-tiered systems of support, evidence-based tiered interventions, evidence-based literacy models, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and effective leadership practices.
Recent Posts
Innovate Inside the Box and the Profile of a Graduate
Today I had the opportunity to work with an amazing administrative team in the Del Norte School District on the northern coast in California. We were discussing the best entry points to teach high school staff about the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and providing all students with opportunities to become expert learners. We had an a-ha moment (think – fireworks in the brain!) and decided that a great place to start is the profile of a graduate. Sometimes called a portrait of a graduate or a vision of a graduate, “a graduate profile is a document that
The Danger of Erasing Disability
A contribution from the brilliant Dr. Eric Moore. Moore is the Universal Design for Learning & Accessibility Specialist + Instructional Designer at the University of Tennessee as well as a practicing educational consultant and author of UDL Navigators in Higher Education: A Field Guide. Contact him directly at DREJMOORE@INNOSPIRE.ORG *** “Come the glorious day when all barriers went… y’know…. We’d just be people with impairments; we wouldn’t be disabled people anymore.” ~Laurence Clark When I was a middle school kid in the early stages of going deaf, I didn’t understand all of the cultural baggage and philosophical context associated with
Innovate Inside the Box Book Club
George Couros and I are excited to announce the #InnovateInsideTheBox Book study, starting September 15, 2019, on Facebook. This book study will go over a 4 week period and is an opportunity to not only dig in deeper into the content of the book with us but will also be a space for people to share ideas and learn from one another as we focus on creating opportunities for purposeful learning for every one of our learners. This book study is one that you can do at your own pace, but also will encourage participants to create multiple means of representation
Growing, Changing, and Deepening Thinking About Disability
Recently, I shared a blog, “My Struggle with the Word “Disabled” and asked for others to share their perspectives. I am floored by the response. It is my goal, with permission, to elevate and celebrate the stories that have been shared with me. In this third installment in this series, I’m happy to share the perspective of Amy Boyden, an educator, a Momma, and an advocate for all students and UDL. I am chiming in because I found myself thinking about disability in a slightly different way this week. I was looking over a page of my own blog, a page
Testimonials
“You will laugh, you will engage, and most importantly, you will learn. These experiences are ones to look forward to if you are fortunate enough to attend any professional development designed and delivered by Dr. Katie Novak. Katie practices what she preaches, and that is all things Universal Design for Learning (UDL). You might be asked to attend a dinner party in the 1970s or line dance with a room full of strangers, but will do so while thinking about how to meet the needs of every single learner in your district, school, or classroom. Be prepared to put your thoughts into action and plan for learning, development, and implementation regardless of your role in education. Katie has the ability to validate every single participant’s interests, viewpoints, and understandings. Whether there are twenty or two hundred people participating in a professional development session, she will make sure it will meet the individual learning needs of all. If you do not have the opportunity to participate in a learning session with Katie in person, be sure to check out her books as well. Reading any of Katie’s books is like having a casual conversation with a colleague and friend. No matter the learning method, you will not be let down!”
“Katie Novak is an engaging, dynamic facilitator of professional development. She does not present or direct, she facilities the learning of others. Through her experience as a teacher and administrator, Katie is able to provide practical examples of the application of UDL and is able to engage participants in exploring their own knowledge and experience to enhance their learning. Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporations (BCSC) has been privileged to partner with Katie as a UDL facilitator at the BCSC UDL Summer Institute for each of the last 4 years. Katie is one of the summer UDL facilitators who BCSC teachers seek out year after year. In addition to her "in person" work with BCSC, her book UDL Now! was purchased for all 750 BCSC teachers as a hands-on resource for UDL implementation. BCSC also has created the option of elearning days and used UDL in The Cloud as a guide in many of the aspects of online course development. Katie is exciting, engaging and practical, but most important Katie causes you to think and explore your own beliefs and practices.”
“I have worked Katie in multiple capacities. As a co-presenter, she is amazing to collaborate with - her ideas and energy are endless and she pushes you to be your very best! I have also worked with Katie when I was an instructor in higher education. She delivered a keynote and workshop to our faculty and received rave reviews for the relevancy of her material and for her ability to model the UDL guidelines in her presentation.”
“Dr. Katie Novak and I first met when we created the #UDLchat on Twitter with Mindy Johnson, Kit Hard, and Elizabeth Stein. Since, we have collaborated closely working towards the common goal of implementing Universal Design for Learning in more classrooms through a network of supports. She is a leader that never sleeps, and I'm happy to say we have been friends and working colleagues for over five years now. Katie listens closely to the needs of teachers, administrators, and others, and the insights she gains from that is beautifully reflected through her books on Universal Design for Learning and her work in school districts nationwide.”
“Great teaching looks a lot like art. While there has been a great deal of attention lately to the "science" of teaching, it is the art of teaching that we most remembers and that strikes us with awe. And that is hard to describe or codify. Katie Novak is an artist when she teaches. I have seen her. She does things that awe and inspire; watching her is like watching a master sculptor at work. Everyone should have a chance to see her teach - and especially to see her bring UDL to life."”