What is UDL?
Universal Design for Learning, or UDL,
is defined as a " …flexible curriculum
and learning environment that allows
students with widely varying abilities
and backgrounds the opportunity to
access the general curriculum and
achieve the academic content standards
that have been established for all
students…" (Bremmer et al., 2002) "These
alternatives are built into the
instructional design and operating
systems of educational materials – they
are not added on after-the-fact." (ERIC-OSEP,
1999) The principles of Universal Design
propose adapting instruction to
individual student needs through:
1. Multiple means of presentation
of information to students (e.g.,
digital text, audio, video, still
photos, images, and all in captions as
appropriate).
2. Multiple means of expression by
students (e.g., writing, speaking,
drawing, video-recording, assistive
technology).
3. Multiple means of engagement
for students (e.g., choice of tools,
adjustable levels of challenge,
cognitive supports, novelty or varied
grouping)." (Bremmer et al., 2002)
"Mere access to information is neither
sufficient nor synonymous with
learning." (Bremmer et al., 2002) "The
goal of UDL is not to reduce effort, but
to reduce extraneous effort that limits
access to learning." (Rose and Meyer,
2002)
In support of UDL,
Kentucky regulations require that any
instructional material and/or
instructional technology to be
considered for state adoption, must be
made available by publishers in
accessible digital format (704
KAR 3:455). An
essential critical attribute of any high
quality instructional material or
instructional technology is availability
of the material in an accessible digital
format consistent with this regulation.
References:
Bremer, Christine
D., Clapper, Ann T., Hitchcock, Chuck,
Hall, Tracy, and Kachgal, Mera.
National Center on Secondary Education
and Transition, Information Brief,
December , 2002, Vol. 1, Issue 3.
Universal Design: A Strategy to
Support Students' Access to the General
Education Curriculum.
ERIC-OSEP Special
Project, Council for Exceptional
Children. Research Connections in
Special Education, Number 5, Fall 1999.
Universal Design, Ensuring Access to the
General Education Curriculum.
Rose, David H. and
Meyer, Anne.
Teaching Every Student in the Digital
Age, Universal Design for Learning.
Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, 2002.
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Not sure
exactly what Universal Design for
Learning is all about? (from
www.DonJohnston.com)
Check out the
following articles, and be sure to
follow the links to other important
UDL-oriented websites to learn more.
Success for All Learners, Part I:
Universal Design for Learning
Success for All Learners, Part II:
Multiple Means of Representation
Success for All Learners, Part III:
Multiple Means of Expression
Success for All Learners, Part IV:
Multiple Means of Engagement
LINKS to UDL information
http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/
The Teaching Every Student (TES) section
of the CAST website supports educators
in learning about and practicing
Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
http://www.eeonline.org/content/view/21/30
This website shows different types
of tools you can use to help you in your
efforts to incorporate Universal Design
into your classes. It is listed as
a resource for secondary education, but
a lot of it could be applicable at the
K-12 level too.
http://www.teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/
This is mainly a Boardmaker resource and
list of ideas for teachers of learners
with severe, profound, intensive,
significant, complex or multiple special
needs.
