Blog Post # 5b: UDL Concept Map

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has many advantages over traditional methods of teaching curricula.  The idea is to make the particular learning goal accessible to all students; hence the term "universal" not uniform.  Indeed the key feature is its flexibility; lessons can be planned in such a way that instruction is differentiated for each student.  First the teacher must determine the goals to be achieved by a particular lesson, and then this guides the choice of different materials or methods.  For example, if the class is reading The Great Gatsby and the purpose of the lesson is to decode the text, then assistive technology , embedded in the curriculum, can aid  motor enhancement, such as alternative keyboards for the student with a physical limitation impeding dexterity; similarly, single ability switches can help the student who struggles to decode text, as can other sensory enhancements.  Having a clear goal in mind helps the teacher choose these methods.  If the goal is instead to appreciate the imagery in the novel, the teacher can have students use various digital media to create visual imagery that the novel evokes, or compose poems or such, all with an eye to engaging the student to make meaning of the text.  By incorporating what is known of the neuroscience of learning, UDL helps teachers support recognition of concepts (through flexible methods of presentation), support strategies for learning (as, for example, through expression), and support affect (through flexible options to engage students).  Such flexibility allows for individualized instruction, and, importantly, allows for effective ongoing assessment, so that each student in the classroom learns to the best of his or her ability, leaving no one behind as so often happens when traditional "one size fits all" methods are employed.  The advantages to UDL are enormous, and teachers everywhere should be encouraged to embrace this concept in the classroom