Universal Design for Learning (UDL) aims to accommodate all students by considering diverse learning needs from the outset. Inspired by universal design in architecture, UDL principles provide multiple means of presentation, expression, and engagement. UDL recognizes students have unique skills, needs and interests. It allows curriculum to be adaptable rather than one-size-fits-all. Technology helps make UDL successful by varying how information is presented, how students demonstrate knowledge, and how they are engaged, motivated and challenged. UDL benefits all students by creating an inclusive learning environment.

1. Universal Design for
Learning:
What is the inspiration for UDL?

2. Think of architecture:
• “First articulated by CAST in the early
1990s, UDL mirrors the universal design
movement in architecture and product
development, which calls for designs that from
the outset consider the needs of the greatest
number of possible users, eliminating the need
for costly, inconvenient, and unattractive
adaptations later.”
• (http://www.cast.org/research/index.html)

3. Architects want to
accommodate
everyone who will use
their building.
Similarly, teachers MUST
accommodate all of their
students who are in their
classroom.

4. Think of education:
• “Universal Design for Learning
is a set of principles for curriculum
development that give all individuals equal
opportunities to learn.”
• (http://www.cast.org/udl/index.html)

5. UDL’s Three Principles
• Presentation
• Expression
• Engagement

6. Neuroscience tells us that the variety of
skills, needs, and interests that students
bring into the classroom are as unique as
fingerprints.
(http://www.cast.org/udl/index.html)

7. What are the
implications?
Our curriculum has to be the dough and not
the cookie cutter.
UDL makes this possible through the following:
-Information is presented in varied ways
-Students express their knowledge in varied ways
-Students interest is constantly stimulated

8. Three brain networks
are at work during
learning:
The Recognition Networks
(Presentation)
+
The Strategic Networks
(Expression)
+
The Affective Networks
(Engagement)

9. The
Recognition
Networks
With UDL, teachers “provide
multiple and flexible methods of
presentation to give students with
diverse learning styles various ways
of acquiring information and
knowledge.”
(http://
www.advocacyinstitute.org/)UDL/
index.shtml

10. The Recognition Networks
• Student handouts
• Powerpoint
presentations
• Podcasts
• Texts with vocabulary
defined in footnotes

11. The Strategic
Networks
With UDL, teachers
“differentiate the ways that
students can express what they
know.”
(http://www.cast.org/udl/
index.html)

12. The Strategic
Networks
• Essays
• Digital Stories
• Songs
• Paintings
• Blogs

13. The Affective
Networks
With UDL, teachers “provide
multiple and flexible means of
engagement to tap into diverse
learners' interests, challenge them
appropriately, and motivate them
to learn.”
(http://
www.advocacyinstitute.org/)UDL/

14. The Affective Networks
• Provide student choice (choice novel unit)
• Provide relevance (This I Believe essay)
• Provide a distraction free environment

15. Technology’s Role:
Technology is what gives teachers the ability to make UDL successful.
With technology, teachers can vary their presentation of information, allow students options for
expressing what they have learned, and give students an interesting and challenging way to learn.

16. UDL’s Impact?
UDL isn’t for the brightest student. It
isn’t for the struggling student. It isn’t for
the student with special needs. UDL is
for EVERY student.
UDL will help every student be
successful.

17. More Technology
to help teachers with
UDL...

18. UDL Book Builder
a different way to read the same text...
• Text-to-speech
• Translations from English to Spanish
• Pictures to accompany words
• Glossary definitions of difficult words

19. Digital Content in the
Classroom
• Learn to find digital texts online and
download
• Learn to create your own digital content
• See model lessons that incorporate digital
content

20. Internet Inquiry Toolkit
• Internet Inquiry is now an everyday
occurrence for students
• Learn to teach Internet Inquiry
• See sample lessons

21. References:
• (http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/)UDL/
• (http://www.cast.org/udl/index.html)