Unique as Fingerprints: Universal Design for Learning

Unique as Fingerprints: Universal Design for Learning

Everyone has a unique characteristic, our fingerprints. Those fingerprints are as unique as each snowflake, each one unique in design. Just as our fingerprints are unique, so is the way in which each of us learns. This is why the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is so important. The Universal Design for Learning is a framework developed to assist educators in recognizing these differences and teaches how to be flexible in their delivery, methods, and engagement of their students. UDL is a research-based set of principles and guidelines, developed by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), to provide a framework for educators to reduce the barriers within curriculum for diverse learners. “UDL has its roots in Universal Design, a term coined by Ronald L. Mace (North Carolina State University) in 1972, as a way to describe the concept of designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life.” (CAST, 2011)

Learners gather, process, and retain knowledge in many ways. Everyone comes with strengths, weaknesses, background knowledge, skills, and abilities. Because of this diversity in learning, CAST has come up with principles and guidelines in the UDL Guidelines 2.0. The goal of these principles and guidelines is to give each individual the opportunity to learn and meet the needs of all students. CAST explains that our brain has three networks, recognition (what), strategic (how), and affective (why). Each of these leads to the three principles and guidelines of UDL.

Principle 1 is described as providing multiple means of representation, the recog...

... middle of paper ...

...istence during a learning task.” (Ralabate, 2011) The key components as discussed are the methods, materials, and assessments used to allow for learners to become skilled and goal oriented, knowledgeable, and motivated to learn. The Universal Design for Learning is a framework to help guide curriculum and educators in reducing barriers, meet students where they are, and maintaining flexibility to give all individuals equal opportunities to learn.

Works Cited

CAST (2011). Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 2.0. Wakefield, MA. Retrieved on February 5, 2014 from http://www.udlcenter.org

Ralabate, P. K. (2011, August 30). Universal Design for Learning: Meeting the Needs of All Students . The ASHA Leader. Retrieved February 5, 2014 from http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2011/110830/Universal-Design-for-Learning--Meeting-the-Needs-of-All-Students/