Module - Modeling UDL

This Module includes the following:

What your student teacher will learn about UDL?

"Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. (www.cast.org)"

Your student teacher will learn about UDL during their class that focuses on exceptional learners. 

UDL is about eliminating barriers to learning for all students and providing access through providing opportunities for multiple means of

Engagement (how they will be motivated to learn)

Representation (how they perceive and comprehend information)

and Action/Expression (express what they know).

This 5 minute video gives an overview of how curriculum can be designed to meet the needs of all your learners.


This video from the National Center on Universal Design describes UDL as "flexible design that allows choices and different paths, and for things to presented in different ways."


The video outlines the 3 principles of any learning situation:

Activities to use with your student teacher to model UDL strategies

Student Teachers often need explicit modeling in order to see how UDL works in the classroom.   To support their understanding of how UDL works in the classroom, participate in this observation activity: Observation Template

Conference before the lesson:

Observe during the lesson: 

Debrief after the lesson: 

*UDL Examples: https://www.cast.org/resources/tips-free

Engagement: flexible grouping, choice of tools, choices in timing of completed tasks, visible timers/alerts, variation in noise, student interests, socially relevant,  display goals in multiple ways, emphasize process/effort, cooperative groups, timely feedback, real life examples, etc. 

Representation: different sized text, clear font, visual layout, color contrast, pre-teach vocabulary, graphic symbols, support for vocabulary, make relationships explicit, text-to-speech, translation tools, explicit prompts, chunk information, remove distractions, etc. 

Action & Expression:  provide alternatives for requirements in timing/speed/materials, acces to alternative keyboards/commands, models or examples, guides and checklists, model think-alouds, graphic organizers, templates, assessment checklists, scoring rubrics, etc. 

Collaborative Planning

After the student teacher has had the opportunity to observe your modeling of integrating UDL strategies in your teaching, support your student teacher in planning a lesson or task that is universally designed.  By collaboratively planning the lesson, you are able to help your student teacher to identify student needs and anticipate "roadblocks" to learning, and select different pathways to the learning goal.

You may use this collaborative planning tool.

1.       Mentor teacher and student teacher review grade level curriculum and standards for the next few weeks.

2.       Together, discuss students’ strengths and needs based on prior assessments, observations and assignments (student data).

3.       Together, discuss points of difficulty in the material and areas that might require additional scaffolding/support.

4.       Together, discuss UDL strategies/approaches to support student engagement (Engagement), access to content (Representation).

5.       Together, discuss different ways for students to express their understanding (Action & Expression)

Additional UDL Resources