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