What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

“Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles for curriculum development that give ALL individuals equal opportunities to learn, including Students with Disabilities”.
(AHEAD 2017)

Research Evidence
UDL draws from a variety of research in the fields of neuroscience, learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. It is deeply rooted in concepts such as the Zone of Proximal Development, scaffolding, mentors, and modelling, as well as the foundational works of Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner, Ross, Wood and Bloom, all of whom espoused similar principles for understanding individual differences and the pedagogies required for addressing them (CAST 2021).

UDL can help us meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities inherent in the variability of ALL learners. By using the UDL framework educators can accept learner variability as a strength to be leveraged, not a challenge to be overcome. (Rose & Meyer, 2002) 

UDL is designed around three main principles:

1. Multiple means of Engagement
2. Multiple means of Representation
3. Multiple means of Action and Expression

The ultimate goal of UDL is to create expert learners, learners who are experts in their own ability to learn and who have a clear understanding of their own identity as a learner.

UDL is designed around three main principles Multiple means of Engagement the Why of Learning Multiple means of Representation the What of learning and Multiple means of Action and Expression the how of learning. Which makes learners strategic and goal directed, resourceful and knowledgeable, purposeful and motivated
Please click on the following link to access the CAST UDL Guidelines