Craig A. Cunningham, Ph.D.


 

Universal Design for Learning

"Universal design in classrooms means using digital tools to create alternatives for students with the widest range of abilities, interests, learning s\tyles, and multiple intelligences." (Male p 21).

Adaptations should be:

  • subtle
  • integrated into the design
  • benefit everyone

Principles:

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.

What these principles mean in practice:

  1. students with disabilities fall along a continuum of learner differences, just as other students do;
  2. teachers should (and many do) make adjustments for all students, not just those with disabilities;
  3. curriculum materials should be as varied and diverse and the learning styles and needs in the classroom, rather than textbook-centered;
  4. rather than trying to adjust the students to learn from a set curriculum, the curriculum should be flexible to accomodate a range of student differences;
  5. use progressive challenges with built-in scaffolds;
  6. create authentic learning activities that resonate with students' diverse backgrounds and culture;
  7. provide balance of structure, repetition, surprise, familiarity and randomness;
  8. in software, provide audio, video, and captions; feedback both visually and auditorily

Brain research suggests brain has three major systems. Each is served by UDL and by features of digital media:

  1. recognition systems to recognize patterns; UDL provides multiple means of representation; digital media are easily transformable.
  2. strategic systems to generate patterns; UDL provides multiple means of expression and control; digital media are easily transportable
  3. affective systems to determine priorities through emotions and feelings; UDL provides multiple means of engagement; digital media are recordable

(see this page for some activities related to UDL)