Universal Design for Learning:

Reaching Every Student

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UDL: What is it?

UDL: Why do we need it?

UDL: How do we use it?

UDL: What is it?

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Universal Design (UD)

Principles of Universal Design (poster)

Sources: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/chapter4_2.cfmhttp://www.ncsu.edu/project/design-projects/udi/2011/05/09/newprinciplesposters/

Universal Design is an architectural movement which promotes designing and constructing structures that will accommodate the widest spectrum of users, including those with disabilities. Prior to the UD movement, buildings were not usually designed with accessibility in mind, and so many buildings have had to be retrofitted for access. Now that UD has become more widespread, we are realizing that addressing the needs of special populations increases accessibility for everyone.

UDL: What is it?

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

UDL: What is it?

Universal Design for Learning extends the principles of Universal Design to the field of education. UDL seeks to increase access to learning by designing more flexibility into the curriculum as well as into classroom options for processing and engaging with information. The goals are to minimize barriers and maximize learning.

Source: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/chapter4_2.cfm

UDL asks educators to provide ways for students to access three brain networks involved in learning: recognition, strategic, and affective networks. This can be done through the 3 principles of the UDL framework:

1. Provide multiple, flexible methods of presentation.Learners should be given a variety of ways to acquire information and knowledge.2. Provide multiple, flexible methods of expression.Learners should be given a variety of ways to demonstrate what they have learned.3. Provide multiple, flexible options for engagement.Learners should be given options which tap into their interests and motivations.

Click here for a video overview of UDL.

UDL: What is it?

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Reflection:

Look again at these examples of Universal Design.

Choose one of these examples and think about how it might support a variety of users, not only those who might have disabilities.

How might this example inform your thinking about Universal Design for Learning?

UDL: What is it?

UDL: Why do we need it?

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Here's a short video explaining why we

need UDL.

Learners are diverse. They have individual strengths, needs, interests, learning preferences, and challenges.

In the past, we have generally designed one type of

curriculum and one type of instruction. The students

who did not succeed in this one-size-fits-all

model were often labeled "disabled."

Differentiation might have taken place, but it was usually more of a retrofit of an existing lesson to address a learning "problem." Sometimes we might even have lowered our expectations, with the best of intentions, instead of maintaining a focus on appropriately challenging each learner.

With UDL, educators are challenged to design curriculum and instruction to be accessible to all learners, not only those we have traditionally considered disabled. Instead of waiting for students to fail and then trying to backpedal to accommodate them, we need to anticipate challenges and build supports into the curriculum and instruction.

UDL reminds us that learning is the goal... so we need to provide a multiple of pathways for students to successfully reach that goal.

Instead of regular education for many with special education for a few, let's work toward accessible education for all!

Source: http://udlonline.cast.org/page/module1/l134/

UDL: Why do we need it?

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UDL: Why do we need it?

Reflection:

Think about some of your students who are not generally successful with the standard curriculum and standard methods of instruction.What are some of the learning challenges that those students face?What supports might enable those students to have more success?How might those supports also help the students who do not generally share those same learning challenges?

UDL: How do we use it?

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Now that you know a little bit about what UDL is and why we need it, it's time to start thinking about how to use it.Remember the 3 principles of UDL:1. Provide multiple, flexible methods of presentation.2. Provide multiple, flexible methods of expression.3. Provide multiple, flexible options for engagement.

UDL has a set of guidelines for educators to assist us in implementing these principles.

UDL Guidelines Checklist

Here is brief overview of the guidelines.

Source: http://udlonline.cast.org/page/module2/l3/

UDL: How do we use it?

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UDL: How do we use it?

Planning for All Learners (PAL)

Step 1: Set goals.Be sure to separate learning goals from procedures or products.Step 2: Analyze current status.Identify the methods, materials, and assessments to be used. Think about the barriers these may present and options you may provide in order to avoid such barriers.

Step 3: Apply UDL to lesson/unit.Use the guidelines to plan the lesson or unit.

Step 4: Teach the UDL lesson/unit.After teaching, evaluate and revise as needed.

UDL Guidelines Checklist

Status Analysis Tool

Sources: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_procedures.cfm?tk_id=21http://udlonline.cast.org/page/module2/l196/

UDL: How do we use it?

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UDL: How do we use it?

Check your knowledge!

UDL Guidelines Checklist

Sources: http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines/principle1#principle1_g1http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines/principle2http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines/principle3

Here are a few examples of strategies you might use to address the UDL Guidelines.Sort each strategy into the principle it fits. Click on the "Check" button to check your answers!

UDL: How do we use it?

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UDL: How do we use it?

Reflection:

Think about a lesson you have recently taught.What were some of the challenges that students faced?Think about steps 1, 2, and 3 of the PAL Process. How might these steps have helped you plan a lesson that addressed some of those learning barriers?

PAL Process

Review and Next Steps

Universal Design for Learning seeks to remove barriers in order to maximize learning for all students.

There are 3 guiding principles:1. Provide multiple means of presentation.2. Provide multiple means of expression.3. Provide multiple means of engagement.

By using the PAL process and the Guidelines, educators can plan ahead to remove barriers and provide appropriate support and challenge for all learners.

Think of a lesson you are going to teach soon. Use the PAL process to set goals, analyze barriers, and design options to maximize success for your students. Remember that learning is the goal; you design the path to help students achieve!

Attachments

78.pdf

UDL Guidelines Checklist.docx

PAL_udlsolutions.pdf