Universal Design for Learning Approaches

Universal Design for Learning Approaches
Name:
Institution:
Course code:
Date:
Students exhibit differences from a young age; therefore, it is naïve to dismiss their impact on education output. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) proposes a learning environment where students' differences are acknowledged and used to increase the margins of success.
Using UDL principles will address the needs of all students, including those with disabilities.
A framework built upon the UDL learning approach values diversity and inclusivity of the curriculum to ensure more significant margins of academic success. This proactive approach to learning focuses on components such as goals, materials, methods, and assessment. Applying UDL in a learning environment helps define the level of expectation for the larger group and individual students. The current education systems are standardized with high stakes meaning there are limited means to achieve the standard. Learning is characterized by one rigid expected outcome, which restricts the students to one medium of expression CITATION Ral11 \l 1033 (Ralabate, 2011). UDL thus helps students to be flexible in meeting learning expectations.
The use of UDL provides students with multiple avenues to arrive at the problem to solve. Consequently, learners' strengths, weaknesses, and preferred interests are easily identified. Educators will monitor the learning networks such as recognition, action, expression, and engagement with the readings helpful in creating an individual profile. The current curriculum assumes that every child learns the same, which is a fallacy responsible for some learners falling behind. Using a UDL lens can evaluate the curriculum barriers by considering interests, cultural backgrounds, talents, physical abilities, and disabilities CITATION Sar16 \l 1033 (Sara Cothren Cook, 2016).
UDL guidelines.
The Universal Design for Learning framework comprises three guidelines representation, engagement, action, and expression.
* Representation.
Educators are encouraged to customize their instructional delivery to help them present information in more than one medium. UDL offers the opportunity for educators to use alternatives in visual and audio resources to guide the students through information recognition, manipulation, and application. This approach considers the diversity of students capable of learning efficiently in more than one standard way. A combination of different means of information presentation can be used; for instance, a video representation can be accompanied by texts or audio. The subject matter can also be presented in graphic illustration, offering contrasting information that may not be obvious to some students. In pre-teaching, color shading will add emphasis or make the students interested enough to provide feedback.
* Engagement.
The ability to trigger a student's interest and motivation to participate is essential in learning. An engaged classroom ensures the learning process is purposeful and well-structured for everyone to feel included. This form of education has a better chance of success because the participatory nature allows students to feel comfortable presenting ideas that may be wrong but help fuel the discussion...