Universal Design for Learning(UDL)

By Jody Albarez

Inspiration for UDL

Traditional teaching methods do not address the needs of diverse learners

All students deserve the opportunity to be successful in the classroom

Educating students with disabilities is a collective responsibility

UDL put into practice

UDL’s First Principle: Provide Multiple Means of Representation

Explanation: Teachers must PRESENT INFORMATION IN VARIED WAYS especially for today’s digital learners

Examples:

Smart Boards, digital stories, audio-visual devices, Promethean Boards, Mimio, Web 2.0 tools

UDL’s Second Principle:Provide Multiple Means of Action/Expression

Explanation: Educators must give students alternatives means of EXPRESSING COMPREHENSION

Examples:

- Assistive technology

- Options for expressing skills and fluency

- Options that support goal-setting, planning, and self-monitoring

UDL’s Third Principal:Provide Multiple Means of Engagement

Explanation: Maintain student interest and motivation

Examples:

- Student response systems

- Laptop computers

- Digital images

Technology’s Role Digital technology offers flexibility to display

content differentlyExamples

UDL’s Potential Impact Using UDL helps teachers address issues in their

classroom

UDL opens learning opportunities for ALL students

UDL builds maximum flexibility into the curriculum

Brain Research and Diverse Learning

Teachers need to pay attention to individual differences in students to identify their strengths and weaknesses

To do this effectively, we must address the three networks of the brain

Brain Networks Recognition-

responsible for processing patterns

Strategic- responsible for processing actions

Affective-responsible for processing emotions

Implications for Diverse Learners Each learner is unique and sees the world in

different ways. We all come from different cultures and ethnic, linguistic, and academic backgrounds

The dream of UDL is for each student to have access to the curriculum in a way that promotes the most learning for that individual

Technology’s Role

Technology can be used to address the three brain networks

Technology provides limitless ways to:

- offer many forms of information (recognition)

- offer means of expression of learning (strategic)

- offer numerous types of engagement (affective)

Tools and Resources The CAST (Center for Applied Science Technology)

website provides many tools and resources for UDL including:

- “UDL Curriculum Self-check” which enables educators to identify their strengths and weakness in applying UDL in the classroom

- “Teaching Every Student” which provides activities, model lessons, and toolkits to support educators

- “UDL Book Builder” which enables educators to develop their own digital books to support reading instruction literacy learning

CAST Tools and Resources in my School

References CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology

website

Howard, K. L. (2004). Universal design for learning: Meeting the needs of all students. International Society for Technology in Education, 31(5), 26–29.

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/