UDL Lesson Reflection

“Universal Design for Learning (UDL) recognizes that every learner is unique and processes information differently” (CAST.org, 2009).  There are three principles used when designing a UDL lesson.  The first one is to use multiple ways to tell the students about what they are learning.  The CAST website states, “Learners differ in the ways that they perceive and comprehend information that is presented to them” (“The three principles of UDL”, 2013).  The second principle of a UDL lesson involves the “how” a student learns.  “Learners differ in the ways that they can navigate a learning environment and express what they know” (“The three principles of UDL” , 2013).  Teachers are to present information in multiple ways in order to reach all learning styles.  The third principle of a UDL lesson talks about how students are affected by the learning.  “Affect represents a crucial element to learning, and learners differ markedly in the ways in which they can be engaged or motivated to learn” (“The three principles of UDL”, 2013).  Students differ in how they feel about the presentation and information they receive during a lesson.  A UDL lesson is presented and evaluated in multiple ways in order to keep students engaged in their learning. 

The premise behind a UDL lesson is great.  An environment where every learner is being presented information, and evaluated to his or her own learning style would be education utopia.  However, the requirements and stress that is levied onto a classroom teacher with state mandated testing, district benchmarks, larger class sizes, and multiple levels of learning in one room, would make the process of creating a UDL lesson unmanageable.  A good teacher can create a lesson that reaches all levels of learners and learning styles without the tedious structure of a UDL lesson plan.  I appreciate teachers being reminded of the importance of teaching to every student in your classroom and feel like many lessons are only designed around one type of student.  Yet, I am concerned that teachers who are not a part of a big district with the personnel to help create these types of lessons would be overwhelmed and continue to leave our profession.

Cast.org (2009). Model UDL lessons. Center for Applied Special Technology. Retrieved from http://udlselfcheck.cast.org/

The three principles of UDL. (April 17, 2013). In National Center for Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved September 15, 2013, from http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/3principles