Universal Design aims to make things accessible to everyone regardless of ability by incorporating flexibility and multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression. It can be applied in education by creating lesson plans that vary teaching methods to include both visual and hands-on activities to appeal to different learning styles, and by allowing students to demonstrate their understanding in multiple ways such as through writing, drawing, or physical activities. When implemented properly, Universal Design benefits all students by promoting independent learning and motivation.

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Universal Design
By: Nicole Ehler

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Universal Design
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Making things appeal to everyone such as the physically
disabled, and the learning disabled.
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UD can be used in school when creating lesson plans that appeal
to all types of learners, and those who have disabilities. If
teachers want to implement UD in the classroom they should…
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Discuss their lesson plans with other teachers who work with
similar students.
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Create lessons that vary between reading and hands-on activities
to appeal to a bigger group. The whole class will engage in
discussion because they have each learned the same material in
a way that interested them.
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UD can be used in public places, too, when designing places that
have shorter counters to allow access for wheel chairs and
vertically challenged people.

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Levels of Learning
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Multiple ways of representation: appeals to everyone, and
attracts all types of learners in some way.
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The lessons allow all students to…
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Perceive
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Comprehend
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Organize new knowledge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFgW0SsoEVo

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Levels of Learning
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Multiple means of actions and expression: students prove their
learning differently based off of their interests, and talents.
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In order to implement this into the classroom, students should be
encouraged to…
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Engage in physical activity in the classroom
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Draw
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Use symbols
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Write

Students may not be good test-takers, so asking them to write
about their new knowledge proves their learning more efficiently.

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Levels of Learning
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Multiple means of engagement: if students are
not engaged in the classroom, they won’t learn.
Teachers should motivate their students in
different ways in order to get them excited to
learn.
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Teachers should give their students multiple
options about how they want to learn in order to
attract interest. Giving students this freedom
allows them to feel more independent and
become more driven.
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Students who are internally driven tend to provide
goals for themselves and work hard

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Resources
Universal Deign for Learning. McGillOSD, Film. 19 Feb 2014.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFgW0SsoEVo>.