Many of the best practices when applying the tenets of Universal Design to the classroom involve disseminating information to students, and receiving back their work, in as varied a number of forms as possible.
Examples include:
Remember, Universal Design allows the student to control the method of accessing information. A student with a hearing impairment and a student with dyslexia should have equal access to learning in the classroom. UDL attempts to make that a possibility.
- Encouraging students to create projects beyond written reports
- Exploring vocabulary and larger themes before moving into details of lesson content
- Incorporating digital technology that allows for tools such as text-to-speech
- Using multiple sources of information such as famous speeches, historical photos, and archival newspaper articles to aid students in understanding concepts
- Ensuring a regular break time for longer class sessions
- Using a clear rubric that can apply to all forms of student projects
Remember, Universal Design allows the student to control the method of accessing information. A student with a hearing impairment and a student with dyslexia should have equal access to learning in the classroom. UDL attempts to make that a possibility.