WHAT IS UDL?

For my first blog assignment we are going to be looking at the term UDL and what it stands for. We are also going to research what UDL is and what it means for someone in the education field. Let's begin!!

To start the formal name for UDL is Universal Design for Learning. If I were to describe the definition of UDL to someone I could say, UDL is designed to help teachers/educators meet the needs of students. This is somewhat correct, but for others like me who might not fully understand the concept there is a video along with a website that explain UDL. The site is very helpful and breaks down UDL and what it means in terms of learning. The site can be found here:

http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/conceptofudl

Another website that is very useful in terms of UDL is, Wikipedia. The information below was found on the wikipedia page of  Universal Design for Learning.

 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences.^[1]Recognizing that the way individuals learn can be unique, the UDL framework, first defined by the Center for Applied Special Technology(CAST) in the 1990s,^[2]calls for creating curriculum from the outset that provides:

• Multiple means of representation

 to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge,

• Multiple means of expression

 to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know, and

• Multiple means of engagement

 to tap into learners' interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn.^[3][4]

Curriculum, as defined in the UDL literature, has four parts: instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments.^[5] UDL is intended to increase access to learning by reducing physical, cognitive, intellectual, and organizational barriers to learning, as well as other obstacles. UDL principles also lend themselves to implementing inclusionary practices in the classroom.




For someone that is entering into the education field I need to emerge myself in the culture of learning new terms and ideas, as well as developing my needs as a classroom teacher. I found this UDL is interesting and the research for this topic could be non stop. I have found so many great ideas that I can incorporate into the classroom without feeling nervous. I have learned so much and it's still only the beginning. I look forward to learning so much more. Everyone in the world is different. We don't walk the same, talk the same, or learn that same. The more that people understand this the better the world would be- especially for educators. UDL should be introduced to all educators in and out of the classroom. I hope you enjoyed learning with me on my first adventure. Check back for more posts in the future! 

Universal Design for Learning. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 9, 2013, from
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal Design for Learning