Universal Design and Education

What is Universal Design?

A goal and a process that can be applied to the design of any product or environment that can be usable by all people

The Process of UniversalDesign

• The process includes identifyingthe application, defining the universe, involving the consumers, adopting standards and applying them, planning for accommodations, training and support and evaluation

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rh6WfSm9CE

What are the principles of UniversalDesign?

• The principles include equitable use, flexibilityin use, simple and intuitive, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physicaleffort, size and space for approach and use

How can Universal Design be used in Education?

• Universal design can be used and thought of as Universal Design of Instruction

• The goal of UDI is to maximize the learning of students with a wide range of characteristics and ways that they learn by applying UD principles to all aspects of instruction

Class Climate

• It is important to create a friendly and safe environment for students to learn

• Welcome everyone

• Be approachable

• Motivate all students

• Address individual needs

Interaction

• Encourage cooperative learning and interaction among students

Physical Environments and Products• Ensure that classrooms, activities, materials, and

equipment are physically accessible to and safely usable by all students

Delivery Method

• In order to incorporate universal design, you must multiple, instructional methods suited for all learners

• Select flexible curriculum

• Make content relevant

• Provide multiple ways to gain knowledge

Information Resources and Technologyand Feedback

• Provide materials that are suitable for the content that is taught and what will be learned-understand that not everyone learns the same so there are different reading levels, materials, resources, etc.

• Provide feedback always

Assessment

• Regularly assess student progress using multiple methods and tools, and based on assessment teachers can adjust instruction accordingly

• Use different ways to students other than standardized testing

Accommodation

• Plan for accommodations for students whose needs are not met by the instructional design

• A great example of this accommodating lesson plans for an ELL (English Language Learner) so that they can gain the same kind of learning as native speakers of the language

All of these are examples of Intructional Design in Education and

UDI practices

Sources used:

• Youtube

• Pinterest

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/equal_access_udi.html

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/instruction.html

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Programs/ud.html

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/CUDE/inst_sec.html