On the Trails

The Universal Design for Learning, a concept developed at CAST (the Center for Applied Special Technology) was designed to provide:

• 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,
• Multiple means of engagement, to tap into learners’ interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation.

These principles are a wonderful guide to designing lessons.  If you read thier web site, you would learn about the three learning networks and examples of how to support those learning networks.  Here is a summary:

To support Affective Learning, a teacher should design a lesson that does all or some of the following:

• Offer Choices of Content and Tools
• Provide Adjustable Levels of Challenge
• Offer a Choice of Rewards
• Offer Choices of Learning Context

To support Recognition Learning, a teacher should design a lesson that does all or some of the following:

• Provide Multiple Examples
• Highlight Critical Features
• Provide Multiple Media and Formats
• Support Background Knowledge

To support Strategic Learning, a teacher should design a lesson that does all or some of the following:

• Provide Flexible Models of Skilled Performance
• Provide Opportunities to Practice with Supports
• Provide Multiple Media and Formats
• Offer Flexible Opportunities for Demonstrating Skill

Technorati Tags: UDL, Teaching Every Student, CAST

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