Universal Design for Learning (UDL) or Universal Instructional Design (UID) focuses on the concept of supporting all students, with or without any disabilities, as critical component during the instructional planning of a course or lesson.
What I think UDL is
UDL image: www.pinterest.com/pin/54746951694396158/
CAST created this video that explains what UDL is and how to apply youtu.be/bDvKnY0g6e4
My reflection on my experience learning and implementing UDL:
My Criticisms of UDL:
Statement of my opinion of UDL:
Learning Segment Link
Learning Segment Presentation
What I think UDL is
- Universal Design for Learning outlines a set of four components (Goals, Methods, Materials, and Assessment) in a curriculum that creates a custom learning experience for each student. UDL works “for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.” Thus UDL essentially allows each student to become “expert learners” because it removes barriers to learning and encourages students to master learning from a strategic, skillful and goal directed; knowledgeable, purposeful and motivating learning environment.
UDL image: www.pinterest.com/pin/54746951694396158/
CAST created this video that explains what UDL is and how to apply youtu.be/bDvKnY0g6e4
My reflection on my experience learning and implementing UDL:
- Learning what UDL is and how to implement it in a classroom is a strong skill that teachers must be familiar with to be well rounded educators. UDL for me as instructional designer was an entirely new concept that I had to understand and how to implement it during online course design. It was difficult to first understand what “assets” are and identifying which students have assets.
- Assets: I believe that the assets section was the most difficult for me because I do not have any teaching experience and I don’t have any background on creating diverse learning in a classroom. I had to push myself to think about what students typically enroll in online courses and reflect upon what assets they possess. I came to the conclusion that the online teacher is the primary drive for UDL and identifying student assets; yet I realized there are methods that can be built into the course during development for students to utilize their assets by allowing individual students to become expert learners as they see fit.
- Accessibility: UDL creates fairness for not only one student with one need, but for ALL students for any needs.
My Criticisms of UDL:
- UDL in a typical classroom setting probably has it’s negative and positive attributes that I am not experienced enough to point out, but in online learning UDL has quite a few negative attributes for a course designer, in my opinion. The major negative about UDL for a course designer is that the course designer is typically not the teacher of the course and usually does not have direct student contact, therefore the course designer roll in UDL is narrowed down to student accessibility options.
Statement of my opinion of UDL:
- UDL in online education specifically allows accessibility options for students to succeed.
Learning Segment Link
Learning Segment Presentation