Universal Design for Learning: A framework for meeting the needs of all students Dr. Patti Ralabate, UDL Fellow CAST & Boston College December 1, 2010.

Universal Design for Learning:A framework

for meeting the needs of all students Dr. Patti Ralabate, UDL Fellow

CAST & Boston CollegeDecember 1, 2010

All students have different learning needs, abilities, and preferences

The Challenge

“A scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice”

(Source: Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008)

Universal Design for Learning

Why UDL?

Too many students

Diverse student needs

Lack of instructional time

Lack of resources & supports

Rigid curriculum & instructional materials

Cost of time & money for retro-fitting

Access & Equity is Built-in

Designed from the outset to meet the needs of all students

Based on brain research

3 Networks

Recognition – What of learning

Strategic – How of learning

Affective – Why of learning

Principles of UDL

Multiple

means of representation

means of action and expression

means of engagement

- CAST -

Multiple Means of RepresentationExamples

Read aloud

Highlight phrases

Listen to audiotape

Text-to-speech

Built-in talking glossary

Built-in language translation

Multiple Means of Action and Expression Written response

Verbal response

Visual art project

Dramatic response

iMovie (Macintosh)

Multimedia: Power Point, Hyperstudio

Multiple Means of Engagement

Flexibility in use of tools to access information

Keep ongoing personal journal

Use archived resources

Choice in means of expression

Flexible grouping strategies

CONCEPTUAL SHIFT

FROM: Fixing the

student

TO: Designing

the curriculum for all students

Elementary: Ms. Bishop

Secondary: Mr. Franks

Looking for Information on UDL National UDL

Center Almost 5 Million hits Almost 126,000

visitors CAST

Over 22 Million hits Over 1 Million visitors

Bookbuilder Over 38.5 Million hits Over 29,000 users

Professional Development Nearly 2500

members of UDL Consortium

Higher Ed courses – CO, CT, DC, GA, KS, LA, MA, ME, NC, RI, TN, VT, WA, WY

NEA Cadre sessions – AR, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MI, MN, NJ, NY, NM, OK, OR, TX, VA, WA

- framework & set of principles - ALL students with equal opportunities to learn.

Resources

National Task Force on UDLwww.udl4all.org

National UDL Center http://www.udlcenter.org/

Center for Applied Special Technology www.cast.org