Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework that leverages scientific knowledge about human learning processes to create flexible learning environments. UDL aims to provide all students with equal opportunities to succeed by removing barriers and accommodating individual differences.
UDL: Quick Guide
1. Explore the guidelines
The Universal Design for Learning Guidelines are not meant to be a “prescription” but a set of suggestions that can be applied to reduce barriers and maximize learning opportunities for all students. They can be mixed and matched according to specific learning goals or applied to particular content areas. Consider how you might integrate UDL strategies to support:
- Access - Ensuring that all learners, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, have equal access to learning opportunities; promoting fairness and reducing barriers.
- Flexibility - Recognizing that learners vary in how they process information and express their understanding, UDL allows for personalized learning experiences, accommodating different learning needs.
- Inclusion - By designing with UDL principles, instructors foster a sense of belonging, encourage collaboration, and create an inclusive learning environment.
- Motivation - Providing options and varied approaches keeps students engaged and motivated. When students feel motivated, they are more likely to persist and succeed.
2. See examples of how others have applied UDL
See how University of Iowa’s Dr. Joanna Krajewski empowers students by transforming the traditional student-professor dynamic into a collaborative partnership using UDL in Anti-Anxiety Course Design: A Multimodal Approach to Student Empowerment in Online Learning
Watch Tom Tobin’s keynote from ICON Day 2023: 31 Days of Universal Design for Learning to hear how UDL can make learning accessible for all students by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression.
3. Start small: make one change
- For a full ICON course scan, try the UDOIT (Universal Design Online Inspection Tool) accessibility checker. It identifies elements that may not be accessible to all students and provides suggestions for fixing them.
- For a quick fix, try the ICON Accessibility Checker while editing content in your course.
For teaching strategies on supporting self-regulation, sustaining effort, and persevering through challenges, visit Learning at Iowa's Teaching Strategies Menu.
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Source: https://udlguidelines.cast.org/