Resources

UDL 101 Series

The UDL Guidelines include research-based guidance so we can design instruction and environment that help all learners gain learner agency which CAST defines as purposeful & reflective, resourceful & authentic, strategic & action-oriented. That said, there are aspects of the full framework that are not articulated in the Guidelines but have a direct impact on the application of the framework. This UDL 101 series is designed to address those nuances.

Lesson Planning with UDL

This Lesson Planning with UDL flowchart lays out the overall steps teachers can take to plan a UDL-aligned lesson plan. Through the use of yes/no prompts, teachers can use this flowchart to purposefully plan their lessons, identify where they would like to learn more about UDL, and determine how to effectively plan for the variability they know they will have in their classroom.

District Level Supports

Braiding MTSS and UDL A Practice Profile

Michael McSheehan and Loui Lord Nelson used their expertise in the fields of MTSS and UDL as well as their experiences in the field to create a tool that guides districts through the elements necessary to braid MTSS and UDL. Read a sample of this robust and actionable tool. To learn more, contact Loui.

UDL in the Field

Trauma Informed Instruction in Conflict

This executive brief takes a close look at how trauma informed practices and UDL align was published by Inclusive Development Partners. It begins by defining trauma-informed instruction and its importance. It then introduces the UDL framework and how its strategies help shift educational practices from focusing on the memorization and regurgitation of facts to a practice that shapes students to fully engage in the learning process to become expert learners. From there, the brief compares trauma-informed instruction and UDL, sharing how they align and how they differ. The conclusion communicates how educators can effectively use UDL strategies to deliver trauma-informed instruction in crisis and conflict settings so learning is fully accessible to all students.

Let’s Add Meaningful Choice

Universal Design for Learning is known for asserting choice in the classroom, but knowing where to start and what kinds of choice there are is a journey. This table breaks down the four major areas of choice and provides examples of how they can be brought to life in the classroom.

UDL Examples from Cambodia

The following YouTube playlist includes 10 videos modeling UDL in a Basic Education environment. Loui had the honor of working alongside a Cambodia-based Inclusive Primary Education Activity (IPEA) team to create these videos on behalf of USAID. Together, Loui and the team contextualized UDL. Now, local teachers can watch these videos and begin shifting their environments to become more inclusive and learner focused. Do you want to use these videos in your context? Use these questions to design your session.