UDL Vocabulary
Developed by researchers at the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), this framework stands in contrast with the “one size fits all” instructional approach that has traditionally been used in classrooms.
What is Universal Design for Learning?
This concept inspired UDL. It states that buildings and tools should be accessible to everyone—those with and those without disabilities. For example, curb cuts allow people who use wheelchairs to move freely and independently from sidewalks to streets or parking lots. At the same time, they benefit people who use strollers, shopping carts, scooters, and skateboards.
What is Universal Design in Architecture?
This principle of UDL presents information and course content in multiple formats so that all students can access it.
This principle of UDL recommends teachers to allow students alternatives to express or demonstrate their learning.
What is Action and Expression?
This principle of UDL seeks to stimulate students’ interests and motivation for learning in a variety of ways.
What is Engagement?
This aspect of UDL looks at physical space, use of physical space, and tools available for learning.
What is Learning Environment?
This component focuses on learning, involves challenge, and is not the same as a state standard.
What is Learning Goal?
This type of learner is created by using multiple means of representation.
What is resourceful, knowledgeable learner?
This type of learner is created by using multiple means of action and expression.
What is Strategic, Goal-Directed Learner?
This type of learner is created using multiple means of engagement.
What is Purposeful, Motivated Learner?
This aspect of UDL tells what a student is supposed to learn. It should be observable, measurable, and flexible.
What is a Learning Goal?
This component encourages using a variety of teaching methods, decisions must be intentional, and includes classroom procedures and routines.
What is Instruction?
Group work, discussion, field trips, modeling, and offering presentation slides to students are examples of this.
What is Multiple Means of Representation?
Offering choices when appropriate, scaffold learning, providing opportunities for students to go out of their comfort zones, and ensuring students know that your classroom is a safe place for trying new things are all examples of this.
What is Multiple Means of Action and Expression?
Offering choices of content and tools, providing adjustable levels of challenge, and allowing to choose from a variety of reinforcers are examples of this.
This aspect gives students the ability to utilize the information and includes physical access, emotional connection, and learning.
What is Access?
This component should be varied, help students achieve the goal, and increase student engagement.
What is Materials?
Activate or supply background knowledge, highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships, and guide information processing, visualization, and manipulation are all examples of this.
What is Providing Options for Comprehension?
Guiding appropriate goal-setting, supporting planning and strategy development and enhancing capacity for monitoring progress are all examples of this.
What is Providing Options for Executive Functions?
Promoting expectations and beliefs that optimize motivation, facilitating personal coping skills and strategies, and developing self-assessment are examples of this.
What is Providing Options for Self-Regulation?
This attribute prevents students from fully accessing learning. It includes physical barriers, lack of background knowledge, learning disability, and lack of interest.
What is Barrier?
This component should focus on progress, should measure product and process, should be flexible and requires active involvement from students.
What is Assessment?
Clarify vocabulary and symbols, clarify syntax and structure, and support decoding of text, mathematical notation and symbols are examples of this.
What is Providing Options for Language, Mathematical Expressions, and Symbols?
Using multiple media for communication and using multiple tools for construction and composition are example of this.
What is Providing Options for Expression and Communication?
Heightening salience of goals and objectives, varying demands and resources to optimize challenge, and fostering collaboration and community are examples of this.
What is Providing Options for Sustaining Effort and Persistence?