Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching and learning that gives ALL students equal opportunity to succeed. The goal of UDL is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove any barriers to learning. It’s about building in flexibility that can be adjusted for every person’s strengths and needs. That’s why UDL benefits ALL learners. It can also be very helpful for English language learners, GATE students and students needing further supports to access the curriculum. In essence, UDL is about bringing equity into every learning environment and increasing access for every learner. UDL is a framework training MTSS is making accessible to every AUSD teacher to ensure our students have optimized learning opportunities based on scientific insights into how humans learn: the why, what and how of learning.
In short, UDL promotes three main principles:
1. Engagement: Look for ways to motivate learners and sustain their interest. Here are some examples:
- Let people make choices
- Give assignments that feel relevant to their lives
- Make skill building feel like a game
- Create opportunities for learners to get up and move around
- Audio, which could be as simple as saying the written directions out loud
- Video showing how to solve one of the problems
- Hands-on learning
- Taking a pencil-and-paper test
- Giving an oral report
- Making a video or a comic strip
- Doing a group project
