Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

What & Why

UDL is founded on the understanding that there is no such thing as "an average learner." ALL learners are individuals with unique combinations of strengths and weaknesses. UDL promotes using flexible learning materials, activities, and assessments that are effective for all learners. UDL promotes developing a course for ALL students in advance rather than waiting until students struggle.

Providing multiple ways to digest content, learn content, and assess learning follows UDL principles.

Consider this analogy: You're hosting a dinner party for friends with restricted diets. What do you do? Prepare a menu for most of your guests or all of your guests.

How To

Provide multiple ways to digest content (e.g., read, watch, listen)
Provide multiple ways to demonstrate learning (e.g., quiz, paper, mindmap)
Provide multiple ways to engage participants (e.g., offer options, foster collaboration, clarify the meaning and purpose of goals--why it matters).

Benefits

Reduced accommodations
Increased retention, persistence, and satisfaction
Increased active participation
Reduced last-minute adjustments

Additional Resources

UDL on Campus: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education - This website explains how UDL applies to higher education learning environments and additional resources for deeper understanding and offers practical information about getting started, case stories that are examples of courses and programs that use UDL to improve student success, and links to some colleges and universities that have UDL initiatives.
The Three Principles of Universal Design - From the National Center for Universal Design in Education, the UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.
How Can Universal Design Be Applied to Instruction - From the University of Washington Center for Universal Design in Education, listed on this website are examples of instructional methods that employ principles of universal design. They make course content and activities accessible to people with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, ethnic backgrounds, and language skills.

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