Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

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What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a people-first design framework that guides the design of learning experiences to proactively meet the needs of each and every ākonga.

When we use UDL, we anticipate barriers to learning in the design of the environment,  and plan in a range of useful supports, options and tools so each ākonga can select what works for them.

UDL is based on neuroscience and evidence-based educational practices.

(Adapted from Allison Posey, CAST 2022).

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a people-first design framework that guides the design of learning experiences to proactively meet the needs of each and every ākonga.

When we use UDL, we anticipate barriers to learning in the design of the environment,  and plan in a range of useful supports, options and tools so each ākonga can select what works for them.

UDL is based on neuroscience and evidence-based educational practices.

(Adapted from Allison Posey, CAST 2022).

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The UDL Thinking Cycle

The UDL Thinking Cycle is one of many approaches to planning using UDL. 

The Thinking Cycle is explained below, or check out our interactive UDL Thinking Cycle.

An image of the Universal Design for Learning Thinking Cycle, with six circles, each representing one step of the Thinking Cycle

 

The UDL Thinking Cycle is one of many approaches to planning using UDL. 

The Thinking Cycle is explained below, or check out our interactive UDL Thinking Cycle.

An image of the Universal Design for Learning Thinking Cycle, with six circles, each representing one step of the Thinking Cycle

 

[ Multiple File Download ]

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Documents Count: 2

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: A4 printable version of UDL Thinking Cycle
  • Description: Download to print your own copy of the UDL Thinking Cycle (1 page)
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-07/UDL%20thinking%20cycle%20on%20a%20page_1.pdf?VersionId=YCJCvf69dNnuJLoSvUH3ym7EBQDDyIFC
  • File Extension: pdf
  • File Size: 443KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: A4 printable version of UDL Thinking Cycle with descriptions
  • Description: Download to print your own copy of the UDL Thinking Cycle with descriptions of each of the steps outlined below (6 pages)
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-08/UDL%20thinking%20cycle%20with%20descriptions.pdf?VersionId=Sw1RVHXulJyIjuPcISkjHLipat.SDjoW
  • File Extension: pdf
  • File Size: 942KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: A4 printable version of UDL Thinking Cycle
  • Description: Download to print your own copy of the UDL Thinking Cycle (1 page)
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-07/UDL%20thinking%20cycle%20on%20a%20page_1.pdf?VersionId=YCJCvf69dNnuJLoSvUH3ym7EBQDDyIFC
  • File Extension: pdf
  • File Size: 443KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: A4 printable version of UDL Thinking Cycle with descriptions
  • Description: Download to print your own copy of the UDL Thinking Cycle with descriptions of each of the steps outlined below (6 pages)
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-08/UDL%20thinking%20cycle%20with%20descriptions.pdf?VersionId=Sw1RVHXulJyIjuPcISkjHLipat.SDjoW
  • File Extension: pdf
  • File Size: 942KB

Image of people standing in a group, they are of varied heights, ages, ethnicities and disabilitiesStep one: What do we know about the people and the context?

Ask yourself,

What do we know about the ākonga?

  • Cultures, languages and identities
  • Connections to place
  • Ākonga strengths
  • Prior knowledge and experience
  • Specific needs and preferences
  • What’s on top for ākonga
  • Wellbeing and morale

What do we know about the context?

  • Time of day, time in the week
  • Environment: online, F2F, field trip
  • Familiar or unfamiliar activity or setting

Image of people standing in a group, they are of varied heights, ages, ethnicities and disabilitiesStep one: What do we know about the people and the context?

Ask yourself,

What do we know about the ākonga?

  • Cultures, languages and identities
  • Connections to place
  • Ākonga strengths
  • Prior knowledge and experience
  • Specific needs and preferences
  • What’s on top for ākonga
  • Wellbeing and morale

What do we know about the context?

  • Time of day, time in the week
  • Environment: online, F2F, field trip
  • Familiar or unfamiliar activity or setting

Image of someone standing on a waka using the stars to navigate toward landStep two: What's the goal and purpose?

Ask yourself:

  • What is the goal?
  • Why are we doing this?
  • What could success look like?

Can these be co-designed with ākonga?

Image of someone standing on a waka using the stars to navigate toward landStep two: What's the goal and purpose?

Ask yourself:

  • What is the goal?
  • Why are we doing this?
  • What could success look like?

Can these be co-designed with ākonga?

Image of a young person staring sadly at a brick wall that is blocking their pathStep three: Identify possible barriers to learning in the design

Ask yourself,

What in our design could create inequity and discrimination?​

What may create barriers to: ​

  • engagement and motivation
  • accessing and understanding information ​
  • participating in learning and expressing what they know.

For more information, go to our reducing barriers for ākonga page.

Image of a young person staring sadly at a brick wall that is blocking their pathStep three: Identify possible barriers to learning in the design

Ask yourself,

What in our design could create inequity and discrimination?​

What may create barriers to: ​

  • engagement and motivation
  • accessing and understanding information ​
  • participating in learning and expressing what they know.

For more information, go to our reducing barriers for ākonga page.

Image showing a laptop, a checklist, a diagram, headphones and other useful supports for learnersStep four: Identify universal supports

Ask yourself,

What supports, options and tools might be useful for some that we can offer to everyone?

Image showing a laptop, a checklist, a diagram, headphones and other useful supports for learnersStep four: Identify universal supports

Ask yourself,

What supports, options and tools might be useful for some that we can offer to everyone?

image shows the three UDL guidelines, Engagement, Representation, Action and ExpressionStep five: Make a plan supported by UDL Guidelines

Make and implement a plan to support ākonga variability

  • Allow what you know about ākonga to influence the design​
  • Address key barriers
  • Build in useful options and universal supports​
  • Organise feedback approaches.

Then check and refine plan using the prompts below. These prompts have been adapted from Key Questions to Consider When Planning Lessons.

They are organised using the three UDL Guidelines, which are grounded in the concept of neuro-variability. Read more about UDL and the Learning Brain. 


A drawing of a brain with the central part shaded inProvide multiple means of Engagement

Affective networks: The 'WHY' of learning

Ask yourself:​

Does the lesson provide options that can help all ākonga:​

  • Regulate their own learning?​
  • Sustain effort and motivation?​
  • Engage and interest all ākonga?​

A drawing of a brain with the middle shaded inProvide multiple means of Representation

Recognition networks: The 'WHAT' of learning

Ask yourself:​

Does the lesson provide options that can help all ākonga:​

  • Reach higher levels of comprehension and understanding?​
  • Understand the symbols and expressions?​
  • Perceived what needs to be learned?

A drawing of a brain with the front section shaded inProvide multiple means of Action and Expression

Strategic networks: The 'HOW' of learning

Ask yourself:​

Does the lesson provide options that can help all ākonga:​

  • Act strategically?
  • ​Express themselves fluently?​
  • Physically respond?

You can find out more about the UDL Guidelines on the CAST website

image shows the three UDL guidelines, Engagement, Representation, Action and ExpressionStep five: Make a plan supported by UDL Guidelines

Make and implement a plan to support ākonga variability

  • Allow what you know about ākonga to influence the design​
  • Address key barriers
  • Build in useful options and universal supports​
  • Organise feedback approaches.

Then check and refine plan using the prompts below. These prompts have been adapted from Key Questions to Consider When Planning Lessons.

They are organised using the three UDL Guidelines, which are grounded in the concept of neuro-variability. Read more about UDL and the Learning Brain. 


A drawing of a brain with the central part shaded inProvide multiple means of Engagement

Affective networks: The 'WHY' of learning

Ask yourself:​

Does the lesson provide options that can help all ākonga:​

  • Regulate their own learning?​
  • Sustain effort and motivation?​
  • Engage and interest all ākonga?​

A drawing of a brain with the middle shaded inProvide multiple means of Representation

Recognition networks: The 'WHAT' of learning

Ask yourself:​

Does the lesson provide options that can help all ākonga:​

  • Reach higher levels of comprehension and understanding?​
  • Understand the symbols and expressions?​
  • Perceived what needs to be learned?

A drawing of a brain with the front section shaded inProvide multiple means of Action and Expression

Strategic networks: The 'HOW' of learning

Ask yourself:​

Does the lesson provide options that can help all ākonga:​

  • Act strategically?
  • ​Express themselves fluently?​
  • Physically respond?

You can find out more about the UDL Guidelines on the CAST website

Image is of a person with a speech bubble in front of them, indicating that they are teachingStep six: Teach, evaluate, revise

Ask yourself:

  • What options, universal supports and strategies worked well?​
  • How will the feedback influence my design?​
  • What will I try next time?

Image is of a person with a speech bubble in front of them, indicating that they are teachingStep six: Teach, evaluate, revise

Ask yourself:

  • What options, universal supports and strategies worked well?​
  • How will the feedback influence my design?​
  • What will I try next time?
[ Heading ]

Templates for planning with UDL

The templates below are there to help you to use UDL when you plan your teaching. Download them and fill them in either on your own, or alongside your colleagues:

The templates below are there to help you to use UDL when you plan your teaching. Download them and fill them in either on your own, or alongside your colleagues:

[ Multiple File Download ]

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Documents Count: 4

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL - design & review course outline
  • Description: Use this template to help you design and review a course outline using a UDL lens
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/Design%20and%20review%20a%20course%20outline%20with%20a%20UDL%20lens%20-%20Final%20version.docx?VersionId=LpM2gWirIJt1WPrcy5PkRvVm3rogPrmR
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 785KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL - Planning an activity
  • Description: Use this template to help you plan an activity using the UDL Thinking Cycle
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/Planning%20an%20activity%20with%20a%20UDL%20lens%20March%202022%20%28003%29.docx?VersionId=ninU6fpl8edu_hrF_YHt35ko6G9Vw8OQ
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 630KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL - Designing an assessment
  • Description: Use this template to help you review NCEA assessment design using the UDL Thinking Cycle
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/UDL%20prompts%20to%20guide%20and%20review%20NCEA%20assessment%20design%20%28V8%29%20Sept%202022%20.docx?VersionId=8nxacbWlRCJuK52U4VzWkUYlSBqjUJ2p
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 34KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL Template - identify barriers
  • Description: Use this template to help you identify common barriers to learning that might exist for ākonga in your subject area
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/Identifying%20common%20barriers%20in%20your%20subject%20area_%20%28003%29.docx?VersionId=jl5Awp8qqxb0kak7oAUQS6MivMa2Kc_g
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 143KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL - design & review course outline
  • Description: Use this template to help you design and review a course outline using a UDL lens
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/Design%20and%20review%20a%20course%20outline%20with%20a%20UDL%20lens%20-%20Final%20version.docx?VersionId=LpM2gWirIJt1WPrcy5PkRvVm3rogPrmR
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 785KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL - Planning an activity
  • Description: Use this template to help you plan an activity using the UDL Thinking Cycle
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/Planning%20an%20activity%20with%20a%20UDL%20lens%20March%202022%20%28003%29.docx?VersionId=ninU6fpl8edu_hrF_YHt35ko6G9Vw8OQ
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 630KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL - Designing an assessment
  • Description: Use this template to help you review NCEA assessment design using the UDL Thinking Cycle
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/UDL%20prompts%20to%20guide%20and%20review%20NCEA%20assessment%20design%20%28V8%29%20Sept%202022%20.docx?VersionId=8nxacbWlRCJuK52U4VzWkUYlSBqjUJ2p
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 34KB

[ File Resource ]

  • Title: UDL Template - identify barriers
  • Description: Use this template to help you identify common barriers to learning that might exist for ākonga in your subject area
  • File URL: https://ncea-live-3-storagestack-53q-assetstorages3bucket-2o21xte0r81u.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2022-10/Identifying%20common%20barriers%20in%20your%20subject%20area_%20%28003%29.docx?VersionId=jl5Awp8qqxb0kak7oAUQS6MivMa2Kc_g
  • File Extension: docx
  • File Size: 143KB
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Resources - find out more about UDL

[ Accordion ]

 Websites and tools:

Interactive UDL Thinking Cycle:

https://view.genial.ly/623b8550473d8800194831a7/interactive-image-udl-thinking-cycle

An image of the interactive UDL Thinking Cycle

Universal Design for Learning: Inclusive Education Guides for Schools:

https://inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/universal-design-for-learning/

Screenshot of Inclusive.Education web page

CAST: The UDL Guidelines:

https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

Screenshot of CAST webpage showing the UDL guidelines

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A teacher’s guide:

https://www.understood.org/articles/en/understanding-universal-design-for-learning

Screenshot of Understood.org web page

How to break down barriers to learning with UDL:

https://www.understood.org/articles/en/how-to-break-down-barriers-to-learning-with-udl

Screenshot of Understood.org web page

CAST: Until learning has no limits

The international home of Universal Design for Learning

https://www.cast.org/

a screenshot of the homepage for Cast.org

 

[ Accordion ]

 Videos:

Learn the fundamentals of UDL:

Allison Posey.

https://youtu.be/8D1Wkyv0JjA?t=5

Screenshot of YouTube video

Universal Design for Learning and the New Zealand Curriculum:

https://vimeo.com/showcase/2950799/video/220717678

Screenshot of UDL and the NZC video

Where has UDL come from?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL2xPwDrGqQ&t=3s

Screenshot of YouTube video
[ Accordion ]

  Readings:

Where is UDL heading?

UDL Must Address Barriers to Equitable Learning | Cracks in the pavement 

https://www.cast.org/news/2021/co-founder-udl-address-barriers-equitable-learning

Screenshot of Cast.Org web page

Cross-pollinating culturally sustaining pedagogy and universal design for learning Waitoller F. R._ King Thorius K. A. (2016)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308039992_Cross-Pollinating_Culturally_Sustaining_Pedagogy_and_Universal_Design_for_Learning 

 
CAST: UDL and the Learning Brain
https://www.cast.org/products-services/resources/2018/udl-learning-brain-neuroscience
 

Differentiated Instruction and Implications for UDL Implementation

https://www.cast.org/products-services/resources/2014/ncac-differentiated-instruction-udl