At A Glance: Universal Design For Learning

Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn.  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.
Individuals bring a huge variety of skills, needs, and interests to learning. Neuroscience reveals that these differences are as varied and unique as our DNA or fingerprints.

As stated, UDL acts as a blueprint for educators to create all that goes on in the classroom including the design of the classroom itself.  Furthermore, as the digital classroom becomes more and more popular, UDL as a guide for planning our blended and elearning approach as well.  Below is a detailed graphic on how educators can ensure that these principles are integrated throughout their program.

To clarify what this may look like in your classroom, I have outlined the following examples below of each of the three principles of UDL:

Provide Multiple Means of Representation

• Offer alternatives for auditory and visual information
• Offer ways of customizing information
• Provide options for language, expression of information and symbols
• Illustrate using a variety of media
• Guide information processing 

Multiple Means of Action and Expression

• Variety of response methods
• Optimize access to assistive technology and tools
• Variety of media types available for communication and composition
• Build fluency with graduated levels of support
• Support and guide student goal setting, planning and strategy development
• Facilitate management of resources and information

Multiple Means of Engagement (we at engagementEDU are partial to this one :) )

• Foster collaboration through community and minimize threat and fear
• Vary demands and resources to optimize challenge
• Promote a community that optimizes motivation
• Facilitate personal coping skills
• Timely and meaning feedback to develop self-assessment and reflection
• Optimize individual choice

The wonderful thing about UDL is not just that supports our identified students, but that it supports all students.  It is a blueprint to create the most optimal environment and program for our students to achieve success.