Design for Each and Every Learner: Universal Design for Learning Modules

Refresher

Take a moment to pause and review what you learned in Modules 1 and 2. How would you summarize your learning so far? Here are a few key ideas:

Module 1 focuses on the “why” of UDL and recognition that clear goals and flexible pathways can open opportunities for all students to develop as expert learners in our classrooms. UDL encourages educators to frame barriers in the environment, not in the student, and to proactively design options for Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression to reduce those barriers. 

 Module 2 highlights CAST’s UDL Guidelines. This tool can help educators anticipate and design for the variability of students. Accessibility is a critical starting point for UDL.

The “How” of Inclusive Instruction

Now that you’ve explored the vision of UDL, the UDL Guidelines, and the UDL Framework, it is time to dive into implementation. Remember, just like Universal Design in architecture looks different in every context, UDL will look different in every learning context. There is no one tool, resource, or technology that is required. Instead, with UDL educators develop the learning goals, proactively reduce barriers, and design flexible instruction using the UDL Guidelines (Engagement, Representation, Action & Expression) in their assessments, methods, and materials. Collaboration can support inclusive instruction - whether with other educators or with students themselves. 

This module includes two2 key concepts to understand:

• the UDL design process includes goals, barriers, flexible options using the UDL Guidelines; and

• the 5-15-45 is a tool to support collaborative design processes to include all students in instruction.


As you work through Module 3, please add to Your UDL Journal.

Part 1: Build background

UDL Design Process

The UDL design process requires a deep reflection on the goals. This includes understanding whether the goal is a key skill, learning content, behavior, or other critical areas of focus for the lesson you are developing. Ask yourself:

• Is the learning goal for this part of the lesson clear?
• Do all students have access to and understanding of the learning goals?
• Do the learning goals reflect high expectations and access to the general education curriculum?
• How can instruction on student IEP goals be integrated into each lesson?

Once the goal for the lesson is clear, reflect on the plan to assess whether students have achieved that learning goal. Flexible formative assessments, or opportunities to gain feedback about student learning, can be used to inform instructional moves. With clear goals and assessment criteria, you can anticipate barriers students may face in their learning. Focusing on goals and barriers enables educators to proactively integrate options into the methods and materials for inclusive instruction that supports all students, including students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Explore this video about the UDL design process (11 slides). Then, choose 2-3 options to build background about the UDL design process.

• Plan Lessons
  • Lesson Designing with UDL (3-page article and PDF downloadable template)
  • UDL Lesson planning guide (1 page of guiding questions)
• Focus on Goals
  • UDL: Start with the Goal (2-page article)
  • UDL Tips on Developing Learning Goals (1 page)
  • Developing IEPs that Support Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (8 page PDF)
• Reduce Barriers
  • Using UDL to Break Down Barriers (~2 pages)
  • UDL StartUps for Least Restrictive Environments (2 pages)
• Focus on Assessments
  • UDL Perspective on Assessment (video series, various lengths each video is under 20 minutes)
  • Grading Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (~3 pages)
• Integrate Flexible Methods and Materials
  • UDL: Meeting the Needs of All Students
  • 5 Examples of UDL in the Classroom
  • The Magic is in the Margins: UDL Math (8 page PDF)

As you build your background, demonstrate understanding: How can you develop goals in your lessons, including IEP goals? How can you leverage the UDL Guidelines to identify and reduce barriers in your goals, assessments, methods, and materials, especially for students with significant cognitive disabilities?

The 5-15-45 Tool: Key ideas to know

Collaboration between general and special educators is critical to quality inclusive education for students with significant cognitive disabilities. However, time and the teaching workload can make this collaboration challenging. If inclusive education requires ongoing and robust collaboration - and time is tight - how can you get started with UDL? The 5-15-45 Tool supports the collaboration processes for educators, whether you have 5, 15, or 45 minutes.

Explore this overview video of the 5-15-45 Tool . Then, choose 2-3 options to explore and build background about the 5-15-45 Tool.

Start on the home page of the 5-15-45 Tool:

• Select a lesson you will work on.
• Choose a colleague to collaborate with. Here is a template you could use to reach out to your team or colleague
• Select a timeframe you both have available to collaborate; either 5, 15, or 45 minutes.

As you build your background, demonstrate understanding: How can you start to plan with a collaborative partner, whether you have 5, 15, or 45 minutes? What are the resources in this tool that you can use with a collaborative partner? How can you use this tool in your lesson planning for students with significant cognitive disabilities?

Part 2: Try it

Now that you have built some background, implement an idea in your work. Observe evidence of student learning and share with a colleague.

Option 1:

If your goal is to focus on instruction, focus on the UDL design process.

• Choose an upcoming lesson and share it with a collaborative partner.
• Determine how much time you have for your collaboration, 5, 15, or 45 minutes. Follow the protocolto plan the lesson to include a student with significant cognitive disabilities.

Option 2:

If your goal is to support adults as they collaborate to support each and every learner, then get to know and use the 5-15-45.

• Introduce the 5-15-45 Tool to the professionals you are working with.
• Have them identify the lesson, their collaboration time, and follow the protocols to include a student with significant cognitive disabilities.
• Guide them through the resources, such as the Inclusive Strategies, to help them reduce barriers as they plan.
• When they have a chance to deliver the lesson, observe how the lesson design supported student learning.

Reflect on how leadership can set expectations for the importance of engaging in collaborative discussions, including the design of curriculum and standards-based instruction to meet the needs of each and every learner.

Need inspiration? In this video, Ashlynn OwenKachikis, Special Educator at Rockwell, describes how professional collaboration increased instructional effectiveness for each and every learner.

Part 3: Reflect and Connect

Document what you tried using an option that is best for you (i.e., using video, text, or audio options). Share with a collaborative partner: what did you learn, and how did your Try It impact student learning, especially for a student with significant cognitive disabilities? 

Reflect on what you learned: What key concept or resource most resonated with your practice as a teacher to support each and every learner, including students with significant cognitive disabilities?

Recognize and consider equity: What barriers were there in the instruction or curriculum (goals, assessments, methods, materials)? What are some systemic barriers to learning that are present in your context?  How does designing for one student provide the opportunity to benefit all students?

Part 4: Dive deeper

Do you still want to learn more? Here are some suggestions:

• Focus on Goals
  • Strategies for AAC in Inclusive Classes
  • Standards-Based IEPs
  • Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) in the IEP (17 pages)
  • Backwards Design (~5 min video)
• Focus on Assessments
  • See Ya Later SMART Goals (~5 min video)
  • Grading My Child with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
  • UDL Tips for Developing Assessments (5 pages)
• Focus on Flexible Methods and Materials
  • UDL theory, framework, and Guidelines
  • Turn and Talk in the Inclusive Classroom
  • Making Inferences in the Inclusive Classroom
  • Graphic Organizers
  • Homework in the Inclusive Classroom
• If you have additional time on your own or with your collaborative partner, explore additional resources in the 5-15-45 tool
  • Advocate for common planning time with an administrator.
  • Set expectations for your planning time with colleagues.
  • Get started at the beginning of the year with this planning guide and checklist.
  • Use this resource when collaborating to support communication needs.
  • Explore guiding questions to go beyond a single lesson (1 page).
  • Explore the Inclusive Strategies list (generally aligned to the UDL Guidelines).
  • Read a blog: Equity isn’t a product. It’s a process. (2 pages)
• Begin a reading group to focus on UDL implementation:
  • Focus on a 5 step process to integrate UDL: Posey, A., & Novak, K. (2020). Unlearning: changing your beliefs and your classroom with UDL. CAST Publishing. Wakefield, MA.
  • Continue reading and watching videos from CAST’s UDL theory and practice book (free online), chapter 4, The UDL Framework

For the Record

Do you need to share how you spent your time? Here is a Self-check sheet with space to document and share your time and your learning.