Universal Universal DesignDesign

Focused on helping ALL Focused on helping ALL studentsstudents

By Emily BoslBy Emily Bosl

What is Universal What is Universal Design?Design?

Universal design is a broad term that can be Universal design is a broad term that can be used to describe many different projects used to describe many different projects and ideas. and ideas.

Its goal is to create an environment that is Its goal is to create an environment that is accessible to all people, not just the accessible to all people, not just the “average person.”“average person.” Regardless of age, illness, status in life, etc.Regardless of age, illness, status in life, etc.

Can be applied to the design of technology, Can be applied to the design of technology, products, environments, and education.products, environments, and education.

How does Universal How does Universal Design relate to Design relate to

education?education? Many standardized curriculums are based on an Many standardized curriculums are based on an

“average” student. However, any good teacher “average” student. However, any good teacher knows that there is no such thing as a cookie-knows that there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter student and that each child learns cutter student and that each child learns differently.differently.

UDL is focused on helping students that do not UDL is focused on helping students that do not benefit from a marginalized and mainstream benefit from a marginalized and mainstream curriculum. Example of these students are:curriculum. Example of these students are: English language learnersEnglish language learners Students with disabilitiesStudents with disabilities Struggling studentsStruggling students Gifted and talented studentsGifted and talented students

Universal DesignUniversal Design

Universal Design creates learning experiences Universal Design creates learning experiences that works for a wide spectrum of students. This that works for a wide spectrum of students. This is done by creating activities that are flexible and is done by creating activities that are flexible and incorporate a lot of choice.incorporate a lot of choice.

Purpose: Every child is given the chance to be a Purpose: Every child is given the chance to be a successful and expert learner.successful and expert learner. Helps students learn to love learningHelps students learn to love learning

There are three things that occurs in every There are three things that occurs in every learning situation that UDL takes into learning situation that UDL takes into consideration when creating meaningful activitiesconsideration when creating meaningful activities How does the learner pick up information?How does the learner pick up information? How do they act of the information?How do they act of the information? How are they engaged by the learning situation?How are they engaged by the learning situation?

Four Components of Four Components of CurriculumCurriculum

1)1) What are its goals?What are its goals?• How the teacher is going to translate the desired How the teacher is going to translate the desired

standard into a meaningful lesson. standard into a meaningful lesson.

2)2) What are the materials?What are the materials?• The materials that are used during a lesson should be The materials that are used during a lesson should be

key to learning.key to learning.

3)3) What are the methods?What are the methods?• The means of instruction should be appropriate and The means of instruction should be appropriate and

effective, whether it’s through a lecture, experience effective, whether it’s through a lecture, experience based, small group, etc.based, small group, etc.

4)4) What are the means of assessment?What are the means of assessment?

• How will the teacher know that their instruction is How will the teacher know that their instruction is working and that students are really learning?working and that students are really learning?

Three Principles of Three Principles of Universal DesignUniversal Design

• To achieve a curriculum based on universal design, To achieve a curriculum based on universal design, there are three principles that should be followed. there are three principles that should be followed. Each is also paired with guidelines to make sure Each is also paired with guidelines to make sure each principle is being met.each principle is being met.

1)1) Provide multiple means of representationProvide multiple means of representation• Provide options for perception, students should Provide options for perception, students should

understand the way information was presented, and understand the way information was presented, and use comprehendible information.use comprehendible information.

2)2) Provide multiple means of action and expressionProvide multiple means of action and expression• Provide options for physical action, expression, and Provide options for physical action, expression, and

executive functions.executive functions.

3)3) Provide multiple means of engagementProvide multiple means of engagement• Provide options for sustaining interest, effort, and Provide options for sustaining interest, effort, and

self regulation.self regulation.

Universal Design and Universal Design and AssessmentAssessment

I was curious on how teachers assess students when I was curious on how teachers assess students when using a curriculum based on universal design, and after using a curriculum based on universal design, and after reading about it these are the key points I found most reading about it these are the key points I found most interesting.interesting.

Inclusive assessment populationInclusive assessment population Assessment needs to be able to measure students with a Assessment needs to be able to measure students with a

wide range of abilities. This does not mean expectations wide range of abilities. This does not mean expectations have to be “relaxed,” it means that the assessment have to be “relaxed,” it means that the assessment must account for multiple methods of learning.must account for multiple methods of learning.

Simple, Clear, and Intuitive Instructions and ProceduresSimple, Clear, and Intuitive Instructions and Procedures The instructions though out the whole assessment The instructions though out the whole assessment

should stay consistent. Directions should also be given should stay consistent. Directions should also be given in a clear way that uses student-friendly terms.in a clear way that uses student-friendly terms.

Maximum Readability and ComprehensibilityMaximum Readability and Comprehensibility Clear, common words should be used, and unnecessary Clear, common words should be used, and unnecessary

words should be eliminated. Unfamiliar words should be words should be eliminated. Unfamiliar words should be paired with a definition, while complex sentences should paired with a definition, while complex sentences should be broken down into smaller ones.be broken down into smaller ones.

Universal Design Universal Design ReflectionReflection

For my field experience last semester I was placed at For my field experience last semester I was placed at Central Academy, which is a progressive school. Central Academy, which is a progressive school. Reading about UDL reminded me of Central’s Reading about UDL reminded me of Central’s educational philosophy because it was very student-educational philosophy because it was very student-based and it incorporated a lot of differentiation into based and it incorporated a lot of differentiation into the curriculum. I was in a classroom with both the curriculum. I was in a classroom with both kindergarteners and first graders, so there was a kindergarteners and first graders, so there was a very wide learning gap that had to be tended to. Like very wide learning gap that had to be tended to. Like the beliefs of universal design, students in the class the beliefs of universal design, students in the class were given many options to express themselves or were given many options to express themselves or express what they knew. I think universal design and express what they knew. I think universal design and progressive schools are implementing many effective progressive schools are implementing many effective teaching strategies into their classrooms that other teaching strategies into their classrooms that other districts could learn from.districts could learn from.

ReferencesReferences(in addition to the articles and videos we were given)(in addition to the articles and videos we were given)

http://www.cehd.umn.edu/NCEO/http://www.cehd.umn.edu/NCEO/onlinepubs/Synthesis44.htmlonlinepubs/Synthesis44.html