UDL – UNIVERSAL

DESIGN FOR LEARNING

Inspiration for UDL
 Started in the physical
sense when buildings
and public spaces were
redesigned to be
accessible for everyone
 You see evidence of
this in every building
now: elevators, ramps,
brail, speakerphones,
closed-captioned
television
What is the Universal Design for Learning

 Much like the universal

design in architecture, the
universal design for
learning is meant to give
access not just physically
but cognitively as well to
all students
 It is a break from the
traditional, single method
teaching that has been
thought of as “traditional”
Three Principles of UDL
 Principle 1: Provide Multiple Means of
Presentation
 Principle 2: Provide Multiple Means of Action and
Expression
 Principle 3: Provide Multiple Means of
Engagement
Principle 1: Multiple means of Presentation

 How students see, hear, and

interact with information
influences how they learn
 Visual adaptations: change
size, color, contrast, layout,
etc.
 Audio adaptations:
volume, speed, visual • General Adaptations: use of
representation other languages and
 Physical adaptations: spatial symbols, graphic organizers,
models, visual/written activate background
descriptions knowledge
Principle 2: Multiple Means of Expression and
Action

 How students show what

they know and have learned
 Provide options for
physical action: physical
option to select among
options, physically
interact/navigate through
information/activities
• Options for executive
 Options for how they
express themselves: option functions: guiding effective
for the way they goal setting, managing
demonstrate knowledge, information and monitoring
different scaffolds progress
Principle 3: Multiple Means of Engagement

 What is going to motivate

students and engage them,
how they are challenged and
interested
 Recruit interest: offer choice
in rewards, presentation, and
environment so it’s relevant to
them
 Options for keeping effort: • Options for self
rewards, vary levels of regulation: personal goal
challenges and supports,
collaboration
setting, scaffolds and self-
assessment/reflection
The Role of Technology
 Digital media has the
intrinsic advantage of
being flexible and easier
to manipulate to fit each
individual student
 There are a wealth of
internet resources that
can be utilized to each
students strengths
What does brain research show us?
 “Learning is distributed across three interconnected
networks: the recognition networks are specialized to
receive and analyze information (the "what" of
learning); the strategic networks are specialized to plan
and execute actions (the "how" of learning); and the
affective networks are specialized to evaluate and set
priorities (the "why" of learning).”
 “Learners cannot be reduced to simple categories such
as "disabled" or "bright." They differ within and across
all three brain networks, showing shades of strength
and weakness that make each of them unique. “
 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/
Implications of research
 Since all students vary across the three networks,
they all have different strengths/weaknesses,
motivations, ways of understanding, and ways of
showing information
 The UDL method is meant to take into account
how these three networks operate for each student
 By recognizing how, what, why a student learns
you inadvertently acknowledge the students
diversity in the school setting
“CAST” Online Tools
1. http://udlselfcheck.cast.org/
 Mainly has a self-check to see where you rank and
how effective you’re using UDL
2. http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/
 Tools that will help to develop lesson/unit plans that
are UDL focussed
3. http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/
 Explains more in depth what UDL is as well as
provides sample lessons, activities, and tool kits
Other UDL Online Sources
 http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/
 Has links to graphic organizers, literacy tools, study
skill tools, audio books, math tools, and much more
that are all UDL centered.
 http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/UDL/index.shtml
 Has classroom scenarios to help implement UDL and
keeps an update on legislative activity related to UDL
 http://udl4all.pbworks.com/What-is-UDL
 Contains free digital tools to help with the UDL
approach
Sources

 http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/
 http://www.cast.org/index.html
 http://www.udlcenter.org/
 Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002).
Teaching every student in the digital
age: Universal design for learning.
Retrieved from
http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystude
nt/ideas/tes/