What is UDL? (Philosophy/Process)

UDL Stands for "Universal Design for Learning." The philosophy behind UDL is that through the use of technology, we can make learning accessible for all students. This goes along with the federal IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), which guarantees individuals at all ability levels the right to have access to learning. This means that educators must be proactive when it comes to technology; often there is a way to help a student learn utliizing new forms of technology. Making content accessible for all students is the goal for UDL, and there are three main principles guiding it:

"1) The curriculum provides multiple means of representation. Subject
matter can be presented in alternate modes for students who learn best
from visual or auditory information or for those who need differing levels
of complexity.
2) The curriculum provides multiple means of expression to allow students
to respond with their preferred means of control. This accommodates the
differing cognitive strategies and motor-system controls of students.
3) The curriculum provides multiple means of engagement. Student’s
interests in learning are matched with the mode of presentation and their
preferred means of expression. Students are more motivated when they
are engaged with what they are learning."

The process of using UDL requires that a teacher have different approaches to teaching that utilize choices and alternatives that utilize technology support. The availability of websites, computer researching, digital media, voice word processing, and presentation software means that teachers really can find a way to reach every student. Each student can also 'show what they know' using the medium that is most appropriate and interesting to them.

Universal does not mean that there is one right way to teach everyone. In fact, it implies that the variety of learners that teachers deal with requires a variety of ways of reaching students. This does not just refer to students with specific disabilities, such as blindness, learning disabilities, or communication disabilities such as autism. Students who are English Language Learners, who have emotional or behavioral problems, or who simply do not learn using a traditional textbook can all benefit from having increased options to absorb and demonstrate knowledge.

Teaching the 'UDL way' requires that the teacher realize that all students learn differently, and that there is no one 'right' way to learn. The goals and the standards are still the focus of the lesson, it is simply the delivery model and the demonstration of learning that is accommodated with UDL. The "Tools and Activities" link below has many helpful tools for figuring out how to design lessons in a way that correlates with UDL.

http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/tools/

http://www.patinsproject.com/universal_design_for_learning_project_files/udl_new.pdf