Universal Design for Learning - Meeting the Needs of Learners

Universal Design for
Learning
Meeting the Needs of
Learners

Goals
Understand background &
foundational concepts of
Universal Design for Learning
(UDL)

Getting started with UDL –
Applications and Resources

Why We Do What We Do
 “Students are not
empty vessels to be
filled, but flames
to be lit” (Plato)
 Needs to be a shift
in how we perceive
our youth
 “Something in
here, that I want to
put into the
world…”

What is it in you that gives
you joy, excites you…
 Most students know
their “spark”
 Most say no one has
asked them what
their “spark” is
 Only 25% say there
is a community
around them that
helps nourish their
“spark”

Five Essential Questions
 What is your spark?
 Who knows your
spark?
 Who helps nourish
your spark?
 What gets in your
way?
 How can I help?

How Can We Help?
 Reaffirm why we do what we do…
 “vessels” or “sparks”?

 Use all the resources available to “light
those sparks” which includes:
Personalized Learning
Inquiry
Universal Design for Learning
Infusing Technology

Origins of Universal
Design
 Originated in the field of
architecture

 Design buildings with
built-in accessibility for
everyone was an
approach superior to
retrofitting buildings to
accommodate diverse
individual needs.

Universal Design:
We all benefit
 Not one size fits all –
but alternatives.

 Designed from the
beginning, not added
on later.

 Increases access
opportunities for
everyone

Universal Design Is All
Around Us…
Ramps
Curb Cuts
Electric Doors
Captions on
Television
Easy Grip Tools

Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Center for Universal
Design (NCU) –
 Equitable Use 7 Principles
 Flexibility in Use
 Simple & Intuitive
 Perceptible
Information
 Tolerance for error
 Low physical effort
 Size and space for
approach and use

UDE Applications
-Educational
software
Universal Design in
-Websites Education (UDE)
-Meetings  Provides a philosophical
-Instructions framework for the design of
-Curriculum a broad range of
-Libraries educational products &
-Computer labs environments
-Registration  Unlike an accommodation
options for a specific person with a
-Student housing & disability, the practice of
residences UDE benefits all students
-Student services

Universal Design –
Principles for Instruction
 Class Climate
 Physical Access,
Usability, and Safety
 Delivery Methods
 Information resources
 Interaction
 Feedback
 Assessment
 Accommodation

Origins of Universal
Design for Learning (UDL)

CAST believes that “barriers to learning
are not, in fact, inherent in the capacities
of learners, but instead arise in learners'
interactions with inflexible educational
goals, materials, methods, and
assessments.”
Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age, p. vi (CAST, 2003)

http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/learn.php

Traditional vs. UDL
Approach

Celebrating Diversity
“We must fundamentally alter
our thinking about diversity as
deviant, that…it must be
accommodated. . .
Rather, we need to be clear
that diversity is an essential
part of the human condition
and needs to be anticipated
and celebrated.”

Dave Edyburn, Associate Professor, UWM

Slide created by Kathy Howery

UDL Originated From
the Edges…
Innovations
emerge from the
margins, not
from the centre
or mainstream
of an industry…

Moving to Accessibility –
A3 Model

ACCESSIBILITY
(Universal Design for
Learning)
ACCOMMODATION
APPROACH (Assistive Technology for
Learning)
ADVOCACY
(Barriers to learning
exist)

APPROACH CHANGES OVER TIME

Universal Design for Learning - Meeting the Needs of Learners

Learning
Definition:
“UDL is an educational
approach to teaching,
learning, and assessment,
drawing on new brain
research and new media
technologies to respond to
individual learner
differences.”

-CAST 2003

UDL - The Intersection
of Initiatives
“UDL is the intersection
where all our initiatives -
integrated units, multi-
sensory teaching, multiple
intelligences,
differentiated instruction,
use of computers,
performance based
assessment, and others -
come together”
Donna Palley (Education in the Digital Age: Rose & Meyer)

UDL and the
Learning Brain
Recognition
network
Strategic
network
Affective
network

UDL and the
Learning Brain
Recognition
Networks:
“the what of
learning”
-identify and
interpret patterns
of sound, light,
taste, smell, and
touch

UDL and the Learning
Brain

UDL and the
Learning Brain
Strategic
networks:
“the how of learning”
-plan, execute,
and monitor
actions and skills

Universal Design and
the Learning Brain

Strategies & Eye Movement Studies

UDL and the
Learning Brain
Affective
networks:
“the why of
learning”
-evaluate and
set priorities

Brain
• One must recognize information,
ideas, and concepts

• One must be able to apply
strategies to process the
information

• One must be engaged
-Vygotsky

Brain
All learners are
unique and
universal does not
mean
“one size fits all”

What do we mean by
Universal?
 To many people the term seems to imply
that UDL is a quest for a single, one size-
fits-all, solution that will work for
everyone.In fact, the very opposite is true.

 The essence of UDL is flexibility and the
inclusion of alternatives to adapt to the
myriad variations in learner needs, styles,
and preferences.
-Slide adapted from Kathy Howery

Universal Design for Learning
calls for:
 Multiple means of representation::to give
learners various ways of acquiring information and
knowledge,

 Multiple means of expression: to provide
learners alternatives for demonstrating what they
know

 Multiple means of engagement: to tap into
learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges,
and increase motivation.

Multiple Means of
Representation

Multiple Means of
Representation
 Video
 Sparks Notes
 Considerate Text
(Mobipocket)
 Read/Write Gold
 “Writing with
Symbols” (ELL)
 Reduce cognitive
barriers

Multiple Means of Action
& Expression

Multiple Means of
Action & Expression
 Speech recognition
software
 Alpha Smart
 iMovie or Movie
Maker
 Inspiration
 Webspiration
 Pixwriter
 Blogging
 Voice Thread

Multiple Means of
Engagement

Multiple Means of
Engagement
 21st Century
Learners – Digital
Natives
 Virtual classrooms
 Nurturing “Sparks”
 Teach today’s
students with
today’s tools

Learning
 Provides a variety of choice for different
learners.

 Has these options available before students
enter the classroom.

 Teachers can plan in advance to meet
students’ needs.


Learning
By frontloading
“assistive”
technologies into the
classroom we can
create a more
accessible and
flexible environment
for all students.


Digital Media is
Flexible and
Transformable
Examples
UDL Editions
Strategy Tour
Thinking Reader
Book Builder
Draft Builder
http://www.cast.org

“Joe’s Non-Netbook” - Youtube

Planning for All
Learners (PAL)
 Set Goals
 Classroom Profiles
 Identify Methods,
Materials,
Assessments &
Barriers
 Apply UDL
 Teach UDL Lesson

Classroom Profiles
 Profile of EACH student’s STRENGTHS &
WEAKNESS:

Recognition Networks
Strategic Networks
Affective Networks
“Sparks”

Materials, Methods &
Assessment
 Potential Barriers & Solutions:

Methods
Materials
Assessment

Materials, Methods,
Assessment

Finding UDL
Solutions

http://udlcenter.org/implementation/examples

UDL LESSON PLANNING &
PROCESSES

Digital Text
Alberta
Education Other Sources
 Digital Repository  Project Gutenberg (free
of Digital Textbooks electronic books)
(Canada Copyright  Wikibooks
Law – Section 32)  UDL Editions by CAST
 Authorized Novels  Google Books
& Plays in Digital  Bookshare.com
Format

UDL Resources -
Technology
http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.co

http://www.techmatrix.org/

http://www.udlcenter.org/

UDL & 21st Century
Learning
 Information is easy to
get!

UDL & 21st Century
Learning
What will be
valued is people
who can make
“usable
knowledge”
with that
information!

Universal Design for Learning - Meeting the Needs of Learners

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