Developed by CAST, the Universal Design for Learning is a framework for optimizing education for all students based on scientific insights into how humans learn.
Te Kete Ipurangi, which means ‘online education basket’ in Maori, is New Zealand’s bilingual education portal. It hosts a rich and comprehensive guide to implementing Universal Design for Learning to address the diversity that exists among students and to ensure learning is inclusive of all student needs. The value of UDL in an Aotearoa New Zealand context:
- enables equity in education
- supports a shift in practice
- values and plans for diversity
- everyone benefits
- culturally inclusive framework
- moves away from random acts of inclusion to deliberate design.
UDL is not a special ed thing or even a general ed thing. It’s just an ed thing. It is a way to connect every student to the learning experience, and a way at looking at learning that is fully inclusive and promotes success for all learners, regardless of ability.
Marotta, 2018
Marotta (2018) shares some real-world classroom applications of technology that support UDL through driving engagement, representation, and action & expression:
- Flip, a free online application from Microsoft for educators to create groups where students can share their ideas via short video, text, and audio messages
- Seeing AI, Claro Scan Pen and Prizmo Go use the camera on your mobile device to take a picture of text and then read it aloud
- Book Creator to create engaging digital books that can feature text, pictures and embedded multimedia through the use of audio and video clips
- KWL charts (a form of graphic organizer)
- StoryboardThat to complete a writing task or produce an audio podcast
From Pages to Google Slides to Microsoft Sway, there are plenty of edtech tools available in our classrooms to amplify student voice.
Marotta, 2018
Shelley Moore applies a UDL approach when she talks about the 7-10 analogy for bowling to explain how educators need to change their aim to ensure they are including the students that need the most support and the students that need the most challenge in their lessons.
References
CAST. (2023). About universal design for learning. CAST Inc. https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl
Marotta, M. (2018, August 13). Tips, tricks and tools to build your inclusive classroom through UDL. EdSurge. https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-08-13-tips-tricks-and-tools-to-build-your-inclusive-classroom-through-udl?utm_source=EdSurgeInstruct&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=08-16-2018&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTnpRM1pEVXlNMlU0TmpRNCIsInQiOiJlMzM1cngwSXZTd1RYbWdZSElyQUtxMyt
SSWD. (n.d.). 3 principles for implementing UDL. SSWD. https://sswd.jibc.ca/udl/principles-implementing-udl/
TKI. (2023). Guide to universal design for learning. TKI. https://inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/universal-design-for-learning/