Walden University

Universal Design for LearningElizabeth Scroggs

Universal Design for Learning

What is it?

A set of principles for curriculum development that give all students equal opportunities to learn.

Inspiration for UDL

The inspiration for UDL was motivated by IDEA mandating that all students be taught and make progress within the general education curriculum. Overall, UDL was inspired by the need to address the needs of a diverse group of learners who may have disabilities that limit their abilities to learn, such as English language barriers, behavioral and emotional problems, lack of interest in education and sensory, physical, or learning disabilities.

UDL’s Three Principles

Provide Multiple Means of Representation

Provide Multiple Means of Action/Expression

Provide Multiple Means of Engagement

Multiple Means of Representation

Teachers must present information in varied ways.

Examples: ActivBoards, digital stories, audio-visual devices, iPads, Mimio, and web.

Provide Multiple Means of

Active/Expression

Teachers must give students alternatives as a means of expressing comprehension.

Examples: assistive technology, options for expressing skills and fluency, and options that support goal-setting, planning, and self-monitoring.

Provide Multiple Means of Engagement

Teachers must maintain student interest and motivation.

Examples: student response systems, laptops, iPads, and digital images.

Three Networks of UDL

Recognition

Strategic

Affective

Recognition Networks

The “what” of learning

Responsible for processing patterns

Strategic Networks

The “how” of learning

Responsible for processing actions

Affective Networks

The “why” of learning

Responsible for processing emotions

Role of Technology in UDL

Provides access to learning environments, materials and experiences. Digital tools offer flexibility to display content differently and marking content.

Examples:

Assistive Technology

UDL

Tools to Assist Learners

Barrier Free Learning Environment

Impact of UDL

Provides alternatives so that every student can learn

Builds flexibility into the curricular materials so that all students can be successful

Flexibility of technologies supports needs of diverse learners

Increases technological awareness

Brain Research on Learning

Based on findings of how the brain processes information, it has a way of distributing the processes to different places based on the task and level of learner. Therefore, it is essential that curriculum, instruction, and assessment is differentiated to activate all three learning networks.

How does UDL support cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and academic diversity?

UDL supports all types of diversity including academic, cultural, and ethnic to help promote success, so students with varied cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds will see and be successful.

UDL also reduces the learners barriers in the classroom, engages all types of learners, while still challenging students.

UDL provides diversity and flexibility especially when incorporating technology which implements tools that are as flexible and diverse as the students.

Students will recognize their preferred method of learning and retaining information.

CAST Online Tools and Resources

Lesson Builder: http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/

Provides teachers with tools and models to create and adapt lessons to increase access and participation for all types of learners in a general education curriculum. This tool can be used to generate lessons and instruction to reach a diverse group of learners, while incorporating technologies and providing students with flexibility with materials and assessments.

CAST Online Tools and Resources

Curriculum Barrier Finder: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/tools/curricu

This tool helps teachers find hidden barriers in the curriculum and educational setting. This tool can be used to ensure that teachers are using the best possible methods and materials for student success after analyzing the curriculum.

CAST Online Tools and Resources

UDL Class Profile Maker: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/tools/classprofile.cfm

The class profile maker helps teachers locate their students’ strengths, needs, and interest.

This tool can be used to help teachers apply the UDL framework and use the template to determine the learning profile of their students so that they can better meet the individual needs of each student.

References

CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology website

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Universal Design for Learning. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/