Fair doesn’t mean giving every child the same thing, it means giving every child what they need.

Rick Lavoie

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is “a blueprint for creating flexible goals, methods, materials, and assessments that accommodate learner differences…it is meant to underscore the need for multiple approaches to meet the needs of diverse learners” (Center for Applied Special Technology, n.d.).

Overview

During class students will be given an overview of Universal Design for Learning, differences between UDL and AT, current brain research, methods and practical applications of UDL.

According to David H. Rose and Anne Meyer UDL has three main principles.  They are as follows:

Principle 1: To support recognition learning, provide multiple, flexible methods of presentation

Principle 2:  To support strategic learning, provide multiple, flexible methods of expression and apprenticeship

Principle 3:  To support affective learning, provide multiple, flexible options for engagement

Readings

Articles

Universal Design in Education:  Principles and Applications by Sheryl Burgstaher

Differentiated Instruction and Implications for UDL Implementation by Tracey Hall, Nicole Strangman, and Anne Meyer

Online Textbook

Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age:  Universal Design for Learning by David Rose and Anne Meyer, 2002

Extra Readings

Universal Design in Education an On-Line Tutorial - University of Washington - Do It Home

Failure is Not an Option - Collecting, Reviewing, and Acting on Evidence for Using Technology to Enhance Academic Performance by Dave Edyburn

Would you Recognize Universal Design for Learning If You Saw It?  Ten Propositions for New Directions for the Second Decade of UDL by Dave Edyburn

Resources

1.  BCUDL Website - http://www.setbc.org/setinfo/BCUDL/ - Check out the BC UDL Learning Project.  There are links to other resources, blogs and wikis.  You can also check out the "The BC UDL Learning Object Repository (BCUDL LOR)". It provides free, searchable, access to UDL learning objects and course materials. It has been created by teachers for teachers across the province of British Columbia.

2.  CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology)

     http://www.cast.org -

• UDL_Guidelines_v1.0-Organizer.pdf - this is a great one page graphic organizer that can be used to quickly check whether a resource you are using uses the three principles of Universal Design for Learning
• udl_guidelines_educator_checklist_9_29_08-31.doc - this is a great checklist to help educators build a unit or a lesson

3.  Colorado State University - Access to Post Secondary Education Through UDL -

      http://accessproject.colostate.edu/udl/documents/index.cfm 

• how_do_you_teach_checklist.pdf - this is a quick checklist to see if you are teaching using multiple means of engagement, expression and representation to reach ALL students.

4.  Saskatchewan Schools - Saskatchewan Schools - Saskatchewan Schools has created this great Learning Styles pdf -  the learning styles, strategies, performance and assessments is a great resource to have as a classroom teacher.  You can find numerous activities to engage ALL learners in your classroom.   

5.  University of Louisville - Center for Innovation and Instruction for Diverse Learners - http://louisville.edu/education/ciidl/acms/udl.html

This website outlines the 3 principles of UDL and goals and guidelines for using UDL in the Classroom.  Michell Abell's Practical Application - Beginners' Guide to Implementing Universally Designed Classroom Content is embedded in the outline.  It is a good guide to use to see how you are using UDL in your classroom.

6.  Blog:  Free Technology Toolkit for UDL in All Classrooms by Karen Jankowski this blog has been turned into a Wiki by Joyce Valenza

     http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/

7.  Blog:  EdTech Solutions:  Teaching Every Child by Karen Jankowski

8.  Wiki:  UDL4All by Paul Hamilton

Videos

EPIC 2014 by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson with Music from Aaron McLeran

No Future Left Behind - 5:46 - Students from Sufferin Middle School created this video about education as part of Net Generation Education Project.

UDL at a Glance - 4:46 - Was created by CAST.  It gives a nice overview of what UDL is.

Pay Attention - 7:42 - Focuses on today's students being labeled as "Digital Learners".  Shows how teachers can use digital technology in their teaching practices?

A Vision of 21st Century Teachers - 4:34 - Eighteen classroom teachers "speak out" on the topic of tech integration and 21st Century skills for students.

UDL Activities

1.  Check out the the UDL Novel Study - A Teachers Guide - To Kill A Mockingbird created by M. LaFleche.  The novel study demonstrates many of the principles of UDL.  Click on the link to access To Kill a Mockingbird.  

2.  Want to learn some cool things about Ancient Eygpt using the principles of UDL.   Check out the Ancient Eygpt Wiki that was put together by two BC teachers, Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Therrien.  Click on the link to access   Ancient Eygpt.

PowerPoint

Day 1 UDL PowerPoint - What is UDL?

In Class Activity

This activity is intended to give you an opportunity to explore a couple of websites where you can learn more about Universal Design for Learning. Click on the link  to open the UDL Webquest Activity.

After Class Activity

This is not a mandatory activity.  In an attempt to met the needs of ALL learners this is an additional activity.  Before you begin your activity take 5 minutes and check out the PBS Website on Eagles.  Once you have checked out the website click on the link to check out what CAST had to say about the website in terms of UDL  pbs-eagles-udl-guidelines.doc

Your Task

Check out 1 of the websites below.  While viewing the website think about what it has in common with the PBS website.  Does the website provide multiple, flexible methods of presentation, flexible methods of expression and flexible options for engagement? Discuss why or why not this website was/was not useful in terms of the principles of UDL? Where there limitations? If so what were they? Who is the intended audience?

The Process

• You can do this by yourself or with one or two other people.  The process is as follows:
• The people in your group should teach the same grades.
• Download a copy of the guidelines.  Select one website. Look at the website thinking about the three principles of UDL. 
• As you go through the guidelines ask each team member his/her opinion of each guideline as it pertains to the website.  If you do not come to a concensus check the guideline that reflects the majority of the group and put a check beside it.  Does your website demonstrate multiple means or representation, expression and enagagement?
• Discuss whether your website employed the three principles of UDL.

Websites

Childtopia - this is an interactive site for children in the early primary grades.  Students will have fun playing games, learning to draw, arts and crafts, listening to tales, completing worksheets, learning to draw numbers and letters as they work through activities that involve listening and reading comprehension

Kidsclick - Web search that was designed for students by librarians

Scholastic Online Activities - Students and teachers can choose a topic and activity from grades K-12.  You select from a list of interactive online activities, teacher strategies and lesson plans

School District 71 - This is a link to the Social Studies resources on the Courtenay School District website.  The reading material is graded by degree of challenge using the ski symbols.

School Time Games - This site has many fun learning activities.  It is geared towards students 9 and older.  Students can play games, puzzles, and activities that are related to a variety of subject areas.

Science Up Close - The site is geared towards students in grade 1-6.  It was created by HMH - Harcourt Schools. 

Silly Books - There are animated books, music, puzzles and games at this site.

Windows to the Universe - This site provides material of the same content at the beginner, intermediate and advanced level.  It discusses topics on the solar system, universe, planets, and astronomy.

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