In my Assistive Technology class, we have been
talking about how to make learning accessible to all different types of
learners. This blog post is going to inform you all about Universal Design of
Learning (UDL). The purpose of UDL is that it "helps meet the
challenge of diversity by suggesting flexible instructional materials,
techniques and strategies that empower educators to meet those varied
needs" (Universal Design For Learning).
The three principles of UDL are:
- Multiple Means of Representation: Providing students with multiple ways of representing work.
- Multiple Means Of Expression: Allowing student's to express what they know in different ways.
- Multiple Means of Engagement: Providing the student's with different ways to engage and motive them to learn.
The Wiki Site provides educators with ways
that they can incorporate the three principles of UDL into their daily lessons
so that it meets the needs of all learners, including those with disabilities.
As a pre-educator who has not had much interaction with students with
disabilities, it was truly a relief to learn that with the help of UDL, it's
actually really simple to help meet the needs of students with disabilities in
your classroom.
- Multiple Means of Representation- Provide visuals like pictures for visual learners.
- Multiple Means of Expression- Allow students to choose whether they want to tell you what they know orally or by writing it down. Allow students who struggle with writing to use a talking word processor or onscreen keyboard!
- Multiple Means Of Engagement- Teachers should provide students with choices in things such as rewards Using technology such as blogging, E-books or voicethreads may also be a great way to help engage and motivate your students to learn!
I think it so important for educators to know how to apply UDL in their classroom. At times education has a lot of buzz words, but teachers often have difficulty applying it in their classroom. The website does provide a lot of good resources to actually apply UDL in the classroom.
ReplyDeletePam like you I haven't had much interaction with students with disabilities. With the research of UDL, the different blogs, and by talking in class I feel that I will be comfortable in meeting the learning styles of the individuals with disabilities. It also helps to know that any question that one might have can be looked up on any of the great websites that were provided to us.
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