Universal Design for Learning

Learning outcomes

• Examine universal design for learning as a framework for innovative instruction

• Explore connections between universal design for learning and learner variability

Activities

Review the resource About Universal Design for Learning and What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Discuss these questions with your learning partner.

• What are the three main principles of UDL?

• What are some of the key differences between UDL and traditional teaching?

• In what ways does UDL align with the idea of learner variability?

Bookmark useful links using your LIFT Bookmarks Form or a curation tool of your choice.

Learning outcomes

• Examine universal design for learning as a tool for supporting learner variability and student agency

View the video Seeing UDL in the Classroom.

Respond to these questions in your LIFT Portfolio

1. In what ways did your experiences as a learner influence the way you teach and perceive school?

2. How is learner variability connected to UDL?

3. How is learner agency (for both children and adults) central to instructional design using UDL?

Learning outcomes

• Critically examine an existing lesson using a universal design for learning lens

• Identify areas for growth or redesign based on UDL considerations

Read the resource Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A Teacher's Guide and Lesson planning with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Identify a lesson you plan to teach or identify a lesson which you've previously taught.

Review the lesson using this guide. Save the completed file in your LIFT Folder.

Respond to these questions in your LIFT Portfolio

1. What were some strengths of your instruction that supported UDL?

2. What are 'blind spots' in your instructional design?

3. In what ways could these strategies be implemented in teaching or coaching educator peers?

Learning outcomes

• Reflect and review learning to identify new questions, ideas, and goals

Reflect

Discuss the following questions with your learning partner and

Respond to the following in your LIFT Portfolio.

1. What was the one idea from this module that resonated most with you as an educator?

2. How do you feel about your understanding of learner variability? Universal Design for Learning?

3. What are some needs and challenges within your school, team, or context specific to learner variability and Universal Design for Learning?

4. In the areas of learner variability and/or culturally responsive teaching, who leads this work in your school?

5. Who leads this work in your district or system?

6. Who are experts or thought leaders on this topic in your school and/or district?

Review / Revise

Review the following areas of your LIFT Portfolio

• Golden Circle

and these documents as necessary:

• LIFT Ideas and Questions

  • What new questions, ideas, inputs or insights have I added?

• LIFT Bookmarks (or your own bookmarks document)

  • What new resources have I found?

• LIFT Folder

  • Are all the necessary documents in your LIFT Folder?

Record

Revisit your work in this module with your learning partner using the following checklist. Check each other's portfolio to ensure the following have been completed. Your learning partner is not expected to review for content, only that you've completed the tasks.

1. Do you have responses to all the questions in your LIFT Portfolio?

2. Have you completed all the activities?

3. Have you added any resources to your LIFT Bookmarks Form or curation tool?

4. Are necessary documents in your LIFT Folder?

Once all the work has been completed, you can

Recognize/Reward your learning partner and move on to the next module.