EDUC 5313: Week 5

 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) makes learning beneficial for everyone. The current education models most schools have implemented are closed-ended and only work well for a section of the student population with the rest trying to fit a mold that they were not made for. Universal Design is a new way of operating; it provides the framework for flexibility and support so that all students can thrive and succeed.

 

When learning about Universal Design many immediately jump to the conclusion that is only designed for those with disabilities, but that is not true. Universal Design does benefit people with disabilities, but the idea is that everyone benefits from it. The flexibility that UDL offers students means that everyone can utilize their strengths and work through their weaknesses in a healthy manner; one in which their whole self is supported and not just the parts that align with the traditional school format. In UDL, the students’ needs are taken into consideration and their educational experience is designed around that. Doing this allows students to feel like their education is to benefit them specifically, and that helps them to feel motivated and excited to learn.

 

A big part of UDL is supporting different levels of proficiency. The flexibility UDL provides makes this possible. There are various strategies that can be utilized in the classroom; some are things that can be included in lessons to make them more accessible to all learners, and others draw upon knowledge and skills the learners already have. Things like multimedia presentations, hands-on activities, and different presentations of work. When students are able to access the strategies that work best for them, they will be able to thrive within the classroom.

 

For my lesson, Universal Learning Design is something that will be very beneficial for my class. Because they are a special education middle school class, the things discussed in the article really resonate. There are content objectives that we need to reach, but if we can achieve those while also allowing the students to enjoy the lesson and feel like they are learning something (and not just being forced to tolerate whatever it is we are doing) will make a huge difference in how the lesson will be perceived. The class is composed of three different grade levels, with even more academic levels within that. Supporting their different academic levels is vital, and I plan on providing various forms of examples and instruction, provide support and feedback, and scaffold the information as much as possible. I also plan on having the information presented in multiple formats (video, written, oral) so that the students can grasp the concepts through the media they learn best from. Despite the variety of strategies and tools I plan to use in the lesson, we will all work toward the same goal. It may look like a different path for each student, but the result should be success in achieving our objectives.

 

Learning about Universal Design for Learning was an exciting thing for me. In the article the authors discussed the history and background of UDL, which is the concept of Universal Design introduced by Ronald Mace from North Carolina State University. My background is not in education, but in design; I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ronald Mace’s work is something we studied in depth during my undergraduate studies and I still work to utilize his ideas in the design projects I do. To have his work influence education, and to be introduced to that while working towards this Master’s of Education, has brought my two worlds together in a way I was not expecting. I look forward to continuing the Universal Design legacy through my work in education as well.

 

References:

Rogers-Shaw, C., Carr-Chellman, D. d., & Choi, J. (2018). Universal Design for Learning: Guidelines for Accessible Online Instruction. Adult Learning, 29(1), 20-31.

 

CAST Universal Design for Learning. http://www.cast.org/our-work/about-udl.html#.X20U9WhKg2w

Comments

  1. KristinSeptember 26, 2020 at 4:10 PM

    Hi, Jacqueline! The article I read focused on incorporating the UDL framework with students who have Intellectual Disability (ID). When I was reading, I felt like the UDL framework should be something we use for all students. I am glad to hear that the article you read agrees that UDL is beneficial for everyone. Of course, all learners deserve flexibility and support, resulting in motivation that may not be there in the traditional curriculum framework. And what a neat connection you found that brought your two worlds together!

    Kristin Redpath

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