Aim: This task helps you understand how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) helps all learners, and suggests some practical steps to implement UDL in online learning.

Time: 20 - 30 minutes, approximately

Instructions

Universal Design for Learning, UDL, is being implemented around the world from pre-school to higher education, as a way of making sure that education is accessible and inclusive to all. The idea came from the architectural world where they have discovered that if you make public spaces easier for people in wheelchairs by adding, for example, ramps then you help many other people at the same time.

We can also make learning more accessible in many ways. UDL helps us to think more systematically about how we can do this. Before we go any further, we should note that offering online learning is itself a way of widening access. Before the Covid19 pandemic, offering learners the chance to learn online, helped sick children or children that live very far away from a school such as in the bush. Online learning could also help you to bring the world to your classroom. If you want your class to ask questions of someone in Cape Town, London or Karachi then you can just invite them to your WhatsApp group! How’s that for widening access?

Part One: Diversity and differentiation

The main ways in which Universal Design for Learning widens access is by paying special attention to diversity and differentiation. Diversity is about making sure that different groups in the population are represented in the learning materials so that every learner can see themselves reflected. Differentiation is about making sure that learners with different levels of skill can still take part.

Look at the examples below. Decide if each example is about ensuring diversity or if it's about letting learners work at different levels of ability (differentiation).

Part Two: Learn More about UDL

Part Three: UDL Checklist for Online Learning

The table below is a checklist to see how far along the UDL road you are in your online learning plans. We have used examples of these in the WhatsApp live lessons.