Universal+Design+for+Learning

toc =Audio Files for This Page= Download the mp3s by right-clicking on the links. Play them directly by clicking on the Play button.

File for This Page
This file reads the Introduction and Learning Activity. Below that are mostly links to resources you can use in the Learning Activity. media type="file" key="Universal Design for Learning.mp3"

Principles of UDL
This is the PDF file. media type="file" key="Principles of UDL.mp3" =Introduction= No two people perform the same task in the exact same way. An example would be cooking; there are many recipes for an individual item such as spaghetti sauce because there are many ways to get to a yummy meal. If you are making spaghetti sauce, you can change your recipe to accommodate the food preferences and needs of your guests, using no animal products for vegan friends or reducing the carbohydrates for friends with diabetes.

If we can have multiple recipes for the same type of food, then why do we have only one "recipe" for learning? The idea behind Universal Design for Learning is to ensure that all students have access to information so they can participate in learning activities.

=Learning Activity= The goal here would be to apply this information. There are many ways to do this. Here are some ideas from which you can choose:
 * Take a presentation you have made or will make and adapt it with multiple means of representation so that it reaches more people.
 * Take an idea in one format (e.g., text, music, etc.) and adapt it to another format. What did you gain or lose in the adaptation? How might using both means enhance the sharing of information?
 * Take a presentation you have made or will make and see what you can do to make it more engaging (do we really need more death by power point?).
 * Download some software from one of the resources below. Explore it and write a brief review so that other people can know what it might be good for and its strengths and weaknesses.
 * [I am open to other possibilities]

=Principles of UDL= The following brief article has the principles behind UDL as well as guidelines that can help in planning.

Multiple Means of Representation
The chart here can help you to think about how to implement multiple means of representation into the information you provide students: http://ohioetc.wikispaces.com/Workshop+on+Presentation+Possibilities+for+Students#Characteristics of Informational Genres

Multiple Means of Action/Expression
Look at all the ways the concept of sadness can be expressed here: http://literacymethods.wikispaces.com/Semiotics+and+Semiotic+Systems

Multiple Means of Engagement
This website has many, many ways of creating engaging lessons and learning activities for students: http://literacymethods.wikispaces.com/ The list of pages on the right hand side can give you some ideas of what is in the wiki. Below that list is a tag cloud that can also help you to find ways you can use of making classroom experiences engaging.

=Technological Tools= There is an amazing array of tools available to provide access to communication and information. With these tools, an ordinary laptop can be an effective learning tool for just about any student. Here are some websites with adaptive technological tools, which, by the way, are free.

Oatsoft
[] This is a huge collection of open source software.

Camera Mouse
[] A tool that uses a webcam for a mouse.

Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia
[]

Software for People with Disabilities
[]

Project Possibility
[]