Universal Design

For Learning

BY- Charu Verma

M.ED Special Education (ID)
Content
• What is UDL?
• Origin of UDL
• Principles of UDL (The three brain
networks)
• Components of UDL
• UDL strategies in classroom
• Why is UDL important for learning ?
• Benefits
• Student perspective about UDL
classroom
• Limitations
• Conclusion
• References
 What does UDL mean?

Universal Design Learning

Methods of Incorporating the what of

Curriculum that can Learning ,how of
instruction that
be easily learning,why of learning
accommodates all
understood by all into instruction so that
types of learners.
learners. students are able to make
sense of desired content .
What is UDL
(UDL) is a teaching approach that works to accommodate the needs and abilities
of all learners and eliminates unnecessary hurdles in the learning process.

● The goal of UDL is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove any

barriers to learning. It’s about building in flexibility that can be adjusted for
every person’s strengths and needs.

● Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching and learning

that gives all students equal opportunity to succeed.

● UDL aims to change the design of the environment and curriculum rather than
to change the learner.

● It’s based on the idea that the “design of products and environments should
be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible - without the need for
adaptation or specialized design”.
ORIGIN OF UDL
● Ronald L Mace, was born in 1941 and was born with Polio and utilized a
wheelchair. He was frustrated by barriers imposed in the environment and
decided to become an architect. and director of the Center for Universal
Design at North Carolina State University. He first coined the term Universal
Design in relation to architecture in 1985.

● When was Universal Design Applied to Education? In 1984 Dr. David Rose and
Dr. Ann Meyer, two researchers from the Harvard school of education,
incorporated CAST (Center for Applied Specialized Technology). They
conceived of Universal Design for Learning by applying the the principles of
Universal Design in architecture to education.

● The goal of CAST was to revolutionize the way that students with special
needs were taught by introducing technology that would allow teachers and
students to customize their learning experiences.
● By 1990, this goal evolved to address the “disabilities of schools” instead of the
“disabilities of the individual”.

● UDL is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences and

cognitive neuroscience that guides the development of flexible learning
environments that can accommodate individual learning differences.
Principles of UDL
Representation Action and Expression Engagement

Flexible ways to present WHAT Flexible options for HOW we learn Flexible options for generating
we teach and learn. and express what we know. and sustaining motivation, the
WHY of learning.

For instance, when classroom This network involves the planning Multiple means of engagement:
discussions are delivered and performing of academic or other
(a) offer choice to students
completely using words, students tasks and deals with how we organize
(tools, etc.) and
with an auditory processing issue and express our ideas. Using (b) allow flexible grouping
or students whose first language strategic tasks, then, can be anything according to learning style or
is not English may not be able to from writing a report to solving a learning level.
comprehend important points in math
the discussion. Providing multiple problem. However, not every student
means of representation will work will be able to access the same
to ensure that all students are strategies to show what they
able to make sense of the understand.
information.

How we identify and categorize Multimedia may be used and tap into learners’ interests,
what we see, hear, and read can technologies such as PPTs, art, challenge them appropriately,
affect learning if instruction is not storytelling,or blogs for the purpose and motivate them to learn.
delivered in such a way that is of expressing.
accessible to how we recognize
Components of UDL

● Goal
● Methods
● Material
● Assessment
 UDL Strategies in the Classroom

1. Know your students strengths and barriers: Some students learn best by reading and
working independently, while others excel by watching videos and working in groups.

2. Technology and UDL: Assistive Technology can help students with diverse learning needs by
supporting, and in some cases accelerating, their learning by providing scaffolding and
options where needed. For example, ‘speech to text’ software can help to express words
while learning online. Using ‘text to speech’ tools can aid comprehension.

3. UDL is not about adding all of the UDL Guidelines into every lesson - that would not be
intentional design, it would take too long, and all those options would be overwhelming to
the learner.

4. Get support from families at home too: Parents or guardians may not be familiar with the
concept of their children being active participants in setting their learning goals and so they
may have questions about allowing them to make their own learning choices. Explain in
parent-teacher conferences that you’ll be adopting UDL and what it means and that you’ll
keep working with the them and their families to build the skills to help them become an
expert learner.
Why Is UDL Important for
learning?
● This uniqueness creates an incredible variability, presents huge barriers to education. This
variability also destroys the myth of “the average student.” It used to be that all teachers would
teach to this “mythical average student.” It turns out that the average student doesn’t exist and
never did.

● UDL aims to change the design of the environment and curriculum rather than to change the
learner.

● Research suggests that, UDL in lesson planning and assessment can increase student
achievement and decrease behavior issues among diverse populations.

● Inculcates values of inclusivity in the classroom,community, infrastructure and society.

● Provides students with mechanisms so as to become more self-aware of how to take charge of
their learning rather than rely on the teacher to make modifications.
 Student perspectives about UDL

“I have a slower processing

“Having visual
speed, so the extra ‘silent
powerpoints or lecture
time’ in between comments
slides made it much
allowed me to gather my
“Lecture notes easier to follow material
thoughts and formulate what I
and slides posted discussed in class.”
wanted to say. I felt left out
a few days before
when discussions were held at
class for more
a fast pace."
time for a student
to read them
before class.”
Limitations
● It can sometimes fail at the expense of wider school accountability.
This pressure is often outside of your control and driven by the school
management.

● Implementation of UDL may prove to be costlier and time consuming.

● Assistive tools may sometimes cause distractions to students.

Conclusion

Teachers in inclusive
environments are responsible for
delivering instruction that can
potentially result in equal
treatment of all students,
including those with special
needs. UDL is a process that
maximizes learning for all
students and minimizes the need
for individual accommodations.
Let's check your knowledge..

● What does UDL stands for?

● Who coined the term Universal Design?
● Full form of CAST is ?
● What are principles of UDL ?
● Name one strategy for UDL in classroom implementation?
● What is your mode of learning?
References
● https://numberdyslexia.com/pros-and-cons-of-universal-design-for-learning-udl/

● https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/employees/centre-for-teaching-learning/universal-design
-for-learning/universal-design-for-learning

● https://www.understood.org/articles/5-examples-of-universal-design-for-learning-in-the-c
lassroom

● https://www.slideshare.net/9934327/universal-design-for-learning-53083137
THANK-YOU