Universal Design for Learning

Stacy ConstantineWalden University

EDUC 67142015

Why Universal Design?

Started with architecture

Allows buildings and environments to be accessible and usable by everyone

Ramps

Larger doorways

Non-slip bathtubs

Source: What is Universal Design? (n.d.)

Source: NAHB What is Universal Design? (n.d.).

What is UDL?

Universal Design for Learning

Provides an opportunity to learn

Helps ALL children

Three Principles

Provides Flexibility and Multiple Means of:

I. Representation – “resourceful, knowledgeable learners”

II. Action and Expression – “strategic, goal-directed learners”

III. Engagement – “purposeful, motivated learners”

Source: UDL Guidelines (n.d.)

I. Provide Multiple Means of Representation

The “what”

Educators must present information in various ways

Real life example: Students can learn about ratios through note taking, watching a video, or participating in a math lab comparing a physical activity with the time it takes.

Source: The Three Principles (n.d.).

II. Provide Multiple Means of Action and ExpressionThe “how”

Allows students opportunity of showing what they know in a variety of ways

Written text

Verbally

Technology

Kinesthetically

Real life example: Students can share information about a fictional text they are reading through writing a poem or song, pretend to be a character and act out a scene from the book, develop an iMovie, etc.

Source: The Three Principles (n.d.).

III. Multiple Means of Engagement

The “Why”

Teachers must find new ways to engage students due to differing student interests

Teachers must provide opportunities for student self-regulation – self assessment, reflection, and developing coping skills

Real life example: Teachers can utilize videos, webquests, virtual field trips, etc.

Source: The Three Principles (n.d.).

Technology

Provides differentiation for all students in the classroom

Examples:

Text-Speech/ Speech-text

SMART technology

Google Docs/ Spreadsheets

Digital Storytelling

Online Graphic Organizers

Source: EdTech Solutions (n.d.).

Student Learning at Sunset Ridge School

UDL provides differentiation to all students to learn

Students become more engaged when content is presented in different ways

Students become more successful when they have opportunities to choose how to learn and display their understanding

Brain ResearchRecognition Network

Located in the back of the head

Recognizes and analyzes patterns that are experienced

Supported by multiple means of representation

Strategic Network

Located in the front of the brain

Processes the muscles and plans actions

Allows us to move

Supported by multiple means of expression

Affective Network

Located in the middle of the brain

Processes emotion

Evaluates patterns, helps to decipher what is important and what actions to take

Supported by providing means of engagementSo

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Source: Laureate Education, Inc., 2009

UDL and Diversity

Teachers must get to know students through checklists and surveys

Carefully plan lessons around students wants/ needs/ backgrounds

Adjust teaching methods as the student changes over time

Source: Rose & Meyer, 2002

Brain Research and Technology

The Recognition Network –

Providing multiple examples through digital media and tools (text, image, sound, or video)

Highlight critical features using animations, color, highlighting tools, or zoom features

The Strategic Network –

Provide flexible models of skilled performance – video, speech text, diagrams, animation

Provide opportunities to practice with supports – text to speech or calculators

Provide ongoing, relevant feedback – speech to speech or blogging

Offer flexible opportunities for demonstrating skill – publishing on a class website or blog

The Affective Network –

Offer choices of content and tools – Software programs such as Quicktime or Write, Camera, Action

Provide adjustable levels of challenge – goal setting programs (typing program)

Source: Rose & Meyer, 2002

CAST

Non-profit educational research and development organization since 1984

Focus on Universal Design for Learning

Motto – “Until learning has no limits.”

Favorite online tools:

UDL Curriculum Self-Check

UDL Book Builder

UDL Exchange

Source: About CAST (n.d.).

UDL Curriculum Self-Check

Tool designed to assess UDL in teacher’s classroom

Utilizes goals, methods, materials, and assessment to grade UDL usage in the classroom

Current educator focus at Sunset Ridge is differentiation

Could be used at Sunset Ridge to determine the extent UDL is present

http://udlselfcheck.cast.org

UDL Book Builder

Tool allows readers to listen to, download, and print off books to read/ review, as well as create and edit own books

Sunset Ridge promotes and encourages literacy

Students often struggle with fluency – can read/ record books at their level

Students will be able to share their works and become published authors

http://bookbuilder.cast.org

UDL Exchange

Tool offers resources, lessons, and collections to browse and share that are driven by the UDL principles

At Sunset Ridge, the ability to locate and browse resources that support UDL, as well as lesson plans that support all learners would be beneficial to our students

http://udlexchange.cast.org/home

ReferencesAbout CAST. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.cast.org/about#.VRhuo0K4n-Y

EdTech Solutions. Teaching every student: free technology toolkit for udl in all classrooms – spread the word! (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/2007/06/free-technology-toolkit-for-udl-in-all.html

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Reaching an engaging all learners through technology: Brain research and Universal Design for Learning. Baltimore, MD: Author.

NAHB: What is Universal Design? (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=89934

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the Digital Age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and Curriculum and Development.

The Three Principles. National center on universal design for learning. (n.d.). Retreived March 29, 2015, from http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/3principles

UDL Guidelines: Theory & Practice Version. National center on universal design for learning, (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines_theorypractice

What is Universal Design? Universal design, (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.universaldesign.com/about-universal-design.html