Universal Design for Learning Resources

As you prepare for spring semester (yikes!), you might consider updating some of your materials to embrace universal design for learning.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a teaching strategy based on the recognition that each student has individual learning needs. UDL encourages the development of equitable teaching strategies focused on transparency and opportunity.  UDL courses seek to address visible and invisible issues of access, some of which may be covered by letters from our Access and Accommodation Center and some of which may not, but might still influence a student’s achievement in your class. 

Many different organizations work on developing UDL materials, but the most prominent is CAST, a Committee for Applied Special Technology originally founded 30 years ago in a Boston area hospital.  CAST has created a huge database of examples and an outline of the fundamentals of Universal Design for Learning. If you’re interested in using UDL strategies in your class, we recommend you check out their site for ideas and resources. Also, be on the lookout this spring for our new Mastering Online Teaching Course: Design for All.