Universal Design for Learning

Adam has trouble seeing the words on the page so converting text to audio helps him "read" his assignments. Beth has trouble comprehending print materials, a combination of visual tracking and audio help her. Charlie has trouble decoding words, a readily available dictionary helps him. Packaged together in one piece of software such as Kurzweil 3000, multiple assistive technologies meet the needs of a variety of students.

A classroom of 25 students has 25 different ways of processing information and learning. Presenting information in different ways and using different teaching techniques address the various student needs present in a classroom. Technology can greatly aide this endeavor.

A month ago (has it really been so long?) I wrote a post about Universal Design (UD), an architectural principal which seeks to create accessibility through design. The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) has identified a similar design principal for education, Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL has three principles¹:

• Multiple means of representation to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge
• Multiple means of action and expression to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know, and
• Multiple means of engagement to tap into learners' interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn

By varying how information is presented, students motivated and learning assessed, more students will have access to learning. By using the principles of UDL, these variations will be built into lessons. It's a good combination.

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(1) CAST. (n.d.) http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html