UDL: Sharing Ideas, Building Resources, Part One

 “Educating students with disabilities is a collective responsibility.” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010)

Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunity to learn.  (www.cast.org)

UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.  (www.cast.org)

Examples of UDL in physical environment:

·         Ramps for wheel chairs

·         Doors that automatically open from pushing a button

Both of these examples might be seen in various businesses, schools or even in homes.

Three Principles of UDL:

1.       Multiple means or representation, to give diverse learners options for acquiring information and knowledge.

2.      Multiple means of action and expression, to provide learners options for demonstrating what they know.

3.      Multiple means of engagement, to tap into learners’ interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation

(retrieved from www.cast.org)

Universal Design for Learning-
Builds maximum flexibility into the curriculum, provides every student with the maximum opportunity to learn, provides alternatives so that every student can learn, and builds flexibility into curricular materials  (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010)

Role of Technology:
Technology allows students to have access to learning and learning environments, to materials for learning, and to be able to have the same experience as other students.

Examples of Technology:
Calculators, speech devices, enlarged monitors and/or keyboards, laptap computers

Impact of UDL in my School Environment:
Through the use of UDL, all students can learn and can have the same learning experiences.  UDL offers a “barrier free” learning environment to ensure success for all.  UDL offers a positive learning environment with the options being endless.  Students are able to collaborate with others to learn as well.

References:

Center for Applied Special Technologies, CAST, retrieved from http://www.cast.org/

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012a). Program number 5: Universal Design for Learning [Video webcast]. In Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology.