What is UDL?

Video Transcription

Hi. My name is Ashley, and today's lesson is titled What is UDL? In today's lesson, you will learn the definition of UDL, why is UDL needed, and how is UDL useful for teachers and students in the classroom.

What is you UDL? UDL, or universal design for learning, is a set of principles for creating curriculum and instruction. UDL offers a flexible approach to teaching, creating an equal opportunity for all students. Modifications are applied during the planning process instead of at the end of failed attempts of instruction. UDL is an idea that actually stems from the field of architecture. In architecture, a blueprint is made in advance to accommodate the needs of everyone. The Americans with Disabilities Act has always required front end development that offers successful learning for persons who need it.

UDL in the classroom, works in the same way. If the learning approach is inflexible, it creates barriers for students who have disabilities or lack certain strengths. And when instruction is created only to meet the average student, the needs of other students are not met. Just like if the blueprint of a building lacks a ramp, then it cannot meet the needs of people in wheelchairs.

Why is UDL needed? UDL provides diversity and a variety of instruction for students. As you know, the abilities of students in a classroom range. Your students have different needs. Neuroscience shows that there are many very differences between individuals. The recognition networks in the brain addresses the what of learning. This consists of information we learn such as identifying numbers or words, or identifying an author style.

The strategic networks addresses the how of learning. This is how we express what we learn and how we organize it in our brains to make understanding of it. Examples of the strategic task involve writing report or solving mathematical problems.

Effective networks addresses the why of learning. This is why we are engaged and motivated to learn. This network is the most complex. Teachers, you included, strive to find many ways to interest and challenge students.

How is UDL useful for teachers and students? UDL helps teachers create a diverse atmosphere for students while allowing them to plan flexible goals, using many methods and materials, and allowing students to show their comprehension in many different forms of assessments. We mentioned earlier that your students will all be different, which means they will learn differently and they will show their knowledge differently. And UDL helps with creating that diversity.

In the planning stages, teachers already plan modifications and accommodations instead of waiting to the end when students don't show results as expected. This flexibility at the beginning of the learning process eliminates the act of reteaching and having to catch up with the pacing guide.

And lastly, since UDL calls for flexible learning approaches and individualized learning for students, then effective instruction is provided for all. Students are being met where they are and not where they should be.

I remember I had a mentor who would tell me you can't think well, the students should know this. They learned this back in sixth grade. You can't think that way because even though a student should know that, do they really? Students should know their multiplication facts by third grade, but I have met many middle school students who still don't know their multiplication facts. So using the UDL meets the students where they are and helps them get to where they should be.

So let's recap what we learned in today's lesson. Universal design for learning is a way of designing instruction that creates an equal opportunity for all students. UDL is needed because classes are diverse, and teachers must meet the needs of many different types of students. UDL helps teachers and students by addressing diversity and allowing for flexible approaches to learning which creates effective instruction for students.

As we close the lesson, think about how this introduction to UDL can impact your students. For more information on how to apply what you learned in this video, please view the Additional Resources section that accompanies this video presentation. The Additional Resources section includes hyperlinks useful for applications of the course material, including a brief description of each resource.