Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a model for learning in which all students, of all abilities and interests, are supported to help them realize their maximum potential. Teachers design lessons to promote inclusion, teaching to the margins such that the accommodations offered support all students. One of the foundational cornerstones of UDL is that all individuals can learn and should be provided with learning opportunities that match their diverse backgrounds, strengths, needs, and interests.
Teachers can support their students’ diverse learning needs by adhering to the three principles of UDL:
Technology has an important role in UDL. As a learning tool, technology enables educators to address these three principles, offering multiple means of representation, action or expression, and engagement. Instances of how technology can be used to support UDL are embedded in the examples below.
Multiple Means of Representation
Teachers should present content in multiple forms while utilizing various supports. For example, teachers can offer alternatives for visual and auditory information; provide additional support for language, mathematical expression, and symbols; and assist with comprehension by supplying background knowledge and highlighting key features. Some ways in which teachers can present content include:
Multiple Means of Action or Expression
Teachers should provide opportunities for students to express their understanding of the content in a variety of ways. This includes providing opportunities for physical action by varying methods for response, allowing for the use of various tools and assistive technologies, utilizing multiple communication medias, and supporting goal setting, planning and strategy development. Examples of how this may look in a classroom include:
Multiple Means of Engagement
Teachers should allow for choice to drive student interest and independence. Not all students share the same interests and motivations. By engaging students, teachers can foster lifelong learning and persistence. Teachers should involve students, giving them choice and input, make learning relevant and authentic, and support collaboration and self-regulation. Offering multiple means of engagement may include the following:
Teachers can support their students’ diverse learning needs by adhering to the three principles of UDL:
- Multiple means of representation
- Multiple means of action or expression
- Multiple means of engagement
Technology has an important role in UDL. As a learning tool, technology enables educators to address these three principles, offering multiple means of representation, action or expression, and engagement. Instances of how technology can be used to support UDL are embedded in the examples below.
Multiple Means of Representation
Teachers should present content in multiple forms while utilizing various supports. For example, teachers can offer alternatives for visual and auditory information; provide additional support for language, mathematical expression, and symbols; and assist with comprehension by supplying background knowledge and highlighting key features. Some ways in which teachers can present content include:
- Pictures and graphic organizers
- Sound clips or audio tapes
- Videos
- Songs
- Charts, graphs, maps, and diagrams
- Stories and poems
- Digital stories
- Text-to-speech
- Multimedia glossary
- Language translation tools
- Resource links
- Podcasts
- EBooks
- Recorded lectures
Multiple Means of Action or Expression
Teachers should provide opportunities for students to express their understanding of the content in a variety of ways. This includes providing opportunities for physical action by varying methods for response, allowing for the use of various tools and assistive technologies, utilizing multiple communication medias, and supporting goal setting, planning and strategy development. Examples of how this may look in a classroom include:
- PowerPoint or Prezi Presentations
- Stories, poems, or other narratives
- Persuasive writing
- Skits and puppet shoes
- Wikis, blogs, or other online forums
- Songs or raps
- Diagrams, posters, dioramas, or displays
- Games: board games, electronic games, or computer games
Multiple Means of Engagement
Teachers should allow for choice to drive student interest and independence. Not all students share the same interests and motivations. By engaging students, teachers can foster lifelong learning and persistence. Teachers should involve students, giving them choice and input, make learning relevant and authentic, and support collaboration and self-regulation. Offering multiple means of engagement may include the following:
- Having students brainstorm areas of learning they are interested in that are related to the targeted content area
- Allowing students to help design activities and tasks
- Academic goal setting
- Cooperative learning groups
- Providing various tools and technology to peak interest such as iPads, Chromebooks, SMART Boards, student response systems like Kahoot or Socrates, and blogs or wikis