Universal Design for Learning

Essential for some, good for all

Why

We teach in increasingly diverse classrooms with a wide range of abilities. Universal Design ensures all learners

are reached, without waiting for them to be noticed for falling behind.

UDL is a research-proven framework for helping teachers make a shift away from traditional models of education

to approaches that value, and are prepared for, the variability all learners bring.

Too many individuals continue to be under-challenged, stressed or simply disaffected because of narrow and

rigid kinds of teaching and learning.

What

“UDL is not a special ed thing or even a general ed thing. It’s just an ed thing. It is a way to correct 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.” Mike Marrotta

How

Use closed captions on Youtube. Click on the CC button in the bottom right corner of the clip. If you want to enlarge them to 150% (recommended) go to settings, then closed captions, then options, then font size. There’s a quick tutorial here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI80sH9LzBc

Use text to speech for students. Experience shows that the novelty factor will have them ALL trying it first time but then only those who need it will use it regularly (so it is probably not going to lead to a nation of illiterate youth) Here is a quick demo of how to do it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCsuaVic2Aw . You can also use it on MS Word by right-clicking on the blue bar at the top of the screen and clicking on ‘customise the quick access toolbar’. Once there, add ‘Read Aloud’; this will add an icon to the top ribbon. Highlight the text you want converted to speech, click the little microphone and it will talk it back at you.

Give students multiple ways to present their work. Graphic organisers, notes, speeches, flash cards, fact lists, brainstorms, even interpretative dance are all ways the beautiful variety of the world's 7.5bn human minds express themselves. Muhammad Ali had an official IQ of 78 which just shows how little quick wit and social nuance were valued by the IQ testers; he certainly knew how to express himself.