universal design for learning (udl) the what, the why and the how for enhancing learning for all...
TRANSCRIPT
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The What, the Why and the How for Enhancing Learning
for All Promoting Collaboration
A New Function for Special Education
Today’s Session at a Glance
What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?
Why UDL? Components of UDL Guidelines of UDL Principles of UDL Tools, Resources, and Supports
What is UDL?
UDL was born from an architectural world intended to design and construct equal access facilities
The concept was then transferred to education.
Universal Design
“Consider the needs of the broadest possible range of users from the
beginning.”
— Ron Mace
What is UDL? (c0nt’d)
A set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn
A way to provide learning opportunities
in the general education curriculum that are inclusive and effective for all
)
What is UDL? (cont’d)
Universal Design for Learning refers to a process by which a curriculum (i.e., goals, methods, materials, and assessments) is intentionally and systematically designed from the beginning to address individual differences.
What is UDL? (cont’d)
The purpose of UDL curricula is not simply to help students master a specific body of knowledge or a specific set of skills, but to help them master learning itself—in short, to become expert learners.
What is UDL? (cont’d)
Not an afterthought Full access is designed from the
onset More cost-effective than retrofitting More elegant and easy-to-use
What is UDL? (cont’d)
UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone.
UDL is not a single, one-size-fits-all solution, but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.
WHY UDL?
Individuals bring a huge variety of skills, needs, and interests to learning. Neuroscience reveals that these differences are as varied and unique as our DNA or fingerprints.
Why UDL? (cont’d)
Three Primary Brain Networks
Recognition Networks The "what" of learning How we gather facts and categorize
what we see, hear, and read. Identifying letters, words, or an author's style are recognition tasks.
Why UDL? (cont’d)
Three Primary Brain Networks (cont’d)
Strategic Networks The "how" of learning Planning and performing tasks. How
we organize and express our ideas. Writing an essay or solving a math problem are strategic tasks.
Why UDL? (cont’d)
Three Primary Brain Networks (cont’d)
Affective Networks The "why" of learning How learners get engaged and stay
motivated. How they are challenged, excited, or interested. These are affective dimensions.
Why UDL? (cont’d)
Eliminates or reduces barriers to academic success for all students
Values diversity in the classroom through proactive design of inclusive curriculum
Provides appropriate accommodations [and] supports
Maintains high achievement expectations
WHY UDL? (cont’d)
Increasing options for access
Increasing options for participation
Increasing options for demonstrating learning
Leading to increased equitable access to the general curriculum
– Higher achievement– Higher graduation
rate– Lower drop out rate
Why UDL? (cont’d)
More Educators are… Teaching effectively in classrooms with
diverse student needs Spending more time on
instruction and facilitating learning
Helping ALL learners succeed
More Students are…
Engaged in their own education Learning at greater breadth and depth Achieving at higher levels Motivated to continue learning
Why UDL? (cont’d)
•
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Traditional– Learning goals may
get skewed by the inflexible ways and means of achieving them.
UDL– Learning goals are
attained in many individualized ways, by many customized means.
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Methods are generally defined as the instructional decisions, approaches, procedures, or routines that expert teachers use to accelerate or enhance learning
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Traditional– Teacher centered
(lecture)– Homogeneous
grouping– Burden on student to
adapt to “get it”
UDL– Interactivity– Heterogeneous
grouping– Rich supports for
understanding, independent learning
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Materials are usually seen as the media used to present learning content and what the learner uses to demonstrate knowledge
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Traditional– Mostly print and
everyone gets the same materials
– Few options
UDL– Variety of materials
and formats to reach learners with diverse abilities, styles, and needs equally well.
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Assessment is described as the process of gathering information about a learner’s performance using a variety of methods and materials in order to determine learners’ knowledge, skills, and motivation for the purpose of making informed educational decisions.
Components of UDL (cont’d)
Traditional– Confuse goals with
means.– Summative—when
it’s too late to adjust instruction!
UDL– Many positive
means as long as they measure learning!
– Supports instructional improvement.
Guidelines of UDL
Guideline 1: Provide options for perception Learning is impossible if information is
imperceptible to the learner, and difficult when information is presented in formats that require extraordinary effort or assistance.
To reduce barriers to learning, it is important to ensure that key information is equally perceptible to all learners by: – providing the same information through different
modalities– providing information in a format that will allow for
adjustability by the user
Guidelines of UDL (cont’d)
Guideline 2: Provide options for language, mathematical expressions, and symbols
A picture or image that carries meaning for some learners may carry very different meanings for learners from differing cultural or familial backgrounds. As a result, inequalities arise when information is presented to all learners through a single form of representation.
An important instructional strategy is to ensure that alternative representations are provided not only for accessibility, but for clarity and comprehensibility across all learners.
Guidelines of UDL (cont’d)
Guideline 3: Provide options for comprehension
The sole purpose of education is not to make information accessible, but rather to teach learners how to transform accessible information into useable knowledge.
Proper design and presentation of information – the responsibility of any curriculum or instructional methodology - can provide the scaffolds necessary to ensure that all learners have access to knowledge.
Three Fundamental Principles of UDL
Multiple Means of Representation– To increase recognition
Multiple Means of Expression– To expand purposeful output
Multiple Means of Engagement– To enhance involvement
Multiple Means of Representation
Provide options for perception
Provide options for language, mathematical expressions, and symbols
Provide options for comprehension
Perception– Customized displays– Auditory alternatives– Visual alternatives
Expression– Vocabulary and symbols– Syntax and structure– Decoding– Understanding – Multiple illustrations
Comprehension– Background knowledge– Patterns and relationships– Information processing– Transfer and generalization
Multiple Means of Representation (cont’d)
Examples– Offer text-to-speech, video, audio, and
other multimedia; integrate assistive technologies into learning environment
– Provide vocabulary support and background knowledge
– Highlight critical features & main ideas
Multiple Means of Representation (cont’d)
Read aloud Highlight phrases Listen to
audiotapes Text-to-speech
What are your ideas?– Generate examples
of how you have represented information in alternative formats.
– Generate new and creative possibilities.
Provide Multiple Means for Actionand Expression
Options for physical action
Options for expression and communication
Options for executive functions
Physical action– Vary response and navigation– Optimize tools and
technologies Expression and communication
– Multiple media– Tools for construction and
composition– Graduated levels of support
Executive functions– Goal setting– Planning and strategy
development– Managing information and
resources– Enhance monitoring progress
Multiple Means of Action and Expression (cont’d)
Examples– Let students show what they know
with voice recording, graphic displays, performance, etc.
– Provide models of expert performance– Offer executive-function supports such
as graphic organizers, outlines, etc.
Multiple Means of Action and Expression (cont’d)
Voice recording Graphic displays Graphic organizers Dance or movement Embedded prompts Checklists Spellcheck Story webs and
outlines Sentence starters
What are your ideas?– Generate examples
of how you have allowed multiple means for action and expression.
– Generate new and creative possibilities.
Provide Multiple Means for Engagement
Options for recruiting interest
Options for sustaining effort and persistence
Options for self-regulation
Recruiting Interest– Individual choice and autonomy– Relevance, value and authenticity– Minimize threats and distractions
Sustaining effort and persistence– Heighten salience of goals
and objectives– Vary demands and resources– Foster collaboration and
community– Increase mastery-oriented
feedback Self-Regulation
– Promote expectations and beliefs
Multiple Means of Engagement (c0nt’d)
Examples– Vary levels of challenge and support to
prevent frustration or boredom– Tie work to real-world examples– Where possible, give choices – Teach self-assessment and reflection– Implement school-wide positive
behavioral interventions and support
Multiple Means of Engagement (cont’d)
Flexibility in use of tools
Provide choice in mode of expression
Connect to community opportunities
Use flexible grouping strategies
Create positive school culture
Peer tutoring Differentiated goals
What are your ideas?– Generate examples
of how you provided multiple means for engagement.
– Generate new and creative possibilities.
“Creating classroom norms, expectations and rules are a golden opportunity to establish and sustain student engagement, use it.”
- Dr. Mary Magee Quinn
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Managing Student Behavior
Learn more about UDL
Research universally-designed products
Share your UDL resources and lesson plans with others
Consider UDL when adopting curriculum policies
What are the Take -Aways?
Supports for UDL
Statutes and Regulations– No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)– Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA)– National Instructional Materials Accessibility
Standard (NIMAS)– Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
US Department of Education– Office of Special Education Programs– Institute for Education Sciences– Office of Postsecondary Education
National Science Foundation
Supports for UDL (cont’d)
Supports for UDL (cont’d)
Exploring the Three Principles
http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines
Supports for UDL (cont’d)
The Role of Technology in UDL http://
www.udlcenter.org/resource_library/articles/udlunplugged
The Seed Lesson– Example lesson illustrating how all principles
of UDL can be met even with limited technology
For More Information
OSEP Ideas that Work - UDL Toolkit
http://www.osepideasthatwork.org/udl / National UDL Task Force
www.udl4allstudents.org CAST
www.cast.org National UDL Center
www.udlcenter.org