Introduction and Overview of Universal Design for Learning
The Background
The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) came up with Universal Design for Learning to address the various needs and learning styles of students. They took the stance that needs, strengths, challenges, and interests vary from student to student, but the traditional curriculum has been built for just one type of student. Education as an industry has spent decades trying to "fix" students so that they can learn by using this one curriculum, one way of presenting, receiving, and engaging in their education. In UDL, the table is turned, and the curriculum design is now being "fixed" to meet the needs, strengths, challenges, and interests of a variety of students rather than the other way around.
Watch this video for an overview of what UDL is, why it is needed, and how it is more than just another means of providing accessibility in your classroom.
Click the CC button on the video to view the closed captions as you watch.
Three Core Guidelines
Providing multiple means of:
- Engagement
- Representation
- Action & Expression
The graphic below shows the three core guidelines of UDL and the path to the goal for each of those. When viewing this graphic, the process is to move vertically in each column from top to bottom in order to reach the goal of students who are -
- Purposeful & Motivated - Engaged
- Resourceful & Knowledgeable - Representation
- Strategic & Goal-Directed - Action & Expression
Let's take a look at each of these three guidelines a little closer. Click on the "Go to..." button in the lower right-hand corner of each page to progress through this module.