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does being able to create a video about the most important part of a lesson. Green screens are not just for professional actors anymore. Or a podcast. They could even be allowed to draw a comic strip. As long as students meet the above- mentioned learning goals they should be allowed to complete various types of assignments.
the goals, pinpoint the priorities and offer a clear idea of where to start and what to look for. Here are a few aspects to consider when
implementing UDL in the classroom. Some require a budget and a mixture of resources, others are simple changes with immediate effect. But no matter the details, universal design for learning boils down to offering more options and choosing the one that works best in a particular setting.
Ensuring the flexibility of the physical learning environment In a UDL classroom there must be flexible work spaces for students. Different learning activities require different settings. Group activities are great, but individual work must happen as well, so the classroom should include spaces for group instruction, small and large group work and also for quiet individual work. Desks on wheels that can be rearranged for different purposes, bookshelves that store classroom supplies and separate the rest of the room from the quiet area, or a table for building mock-ups are all examples of great flexible furniture.
Establish clear learning goals with students Having options is great but at the end of the day (actually at the end of the school year) the same curriculum goals must be met by all students. UDL
allows the journey to that goal to correspond to students’ individual needs and establish smaller and more personalized goals along the way. But the end result still must be the same. When students know what they’re working to achieve and have a degree of choice on how to do it they’ll be more motivated to reach those goals. That’s why goals are always made apparent in a UDL classroom.
Determine the types of content that best support their learning If students can’t access information, they can’t learn it. There are many types of disabilities that students suffer from, or they just thrive on one type of content and struggle with another. In a UDL classroom, all learning content must be accessible for all types of learners. For example, students should have various options for reading, including print, digital, text-to-speech and audiobooks; they should be able to select text enlargement if necessary, or set the screen color and contrast. All video content should have captions, and audio files transcripts.
Consider together all the assessment types In a UDL classroom there is always more than one way for students to demonstrate what they learned and prove their mastery of new concepts. An essay or a worksheet can do the trick. But so
Agree on the purpose of feedback and grades In a traditional classroom the main scope of grades is to measure performance and they are the most palpable form of feedback. A good grade equals a good student, while a bad one does not. But students’ progress should not be based solely on how they perform in a few and fixed intervals of time. With UDL students get feedback as often as they need it, so they are able to continue their learning journey in the same direction or make adjustments if they somehow fall off track. They are encouraged to react on the choices they made in class and whether they met the goals. If they didn’t meet the goals, they’re encouraged to think about what might have helped them do so. And most importantly, grades are regarded as tools to reinforce those goals.
Consider the supporting edtech tools UDL would not be possible without technology. A UDL classroom is a tech-focused one. Edtech tools come in incredible numbers and there’s always something new, something better, something that promises to change the educational world. It’s up to every educator to decide which one is which. Using a learning management system with adaptive learning features, personalized learning paths and a generous amount of assessment types is a start. But there are plenty of other tools and websites that can support universal design for learning.
Closing thoughts Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching aimed at meeting the needs of every student in a classroom. It promotes having options to more aspects of learning, from how instruction is delivered, to how students can demonstrate their learning, to various ways of nurturing interest and motivation in every learning activity. UDL can be very helpful for students with learning and attention issues, but most of all, it minimizes barriers and maximises learning for all students. Because when we design for disability, we all benefit.
October 2018
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