Universal Design For Learning Within Educational Environments

One of the goals of education is to motivate and engage our students in learning, even the things that are difficult for them. This paper addresses the hopes and challenges of teacher’s today. Two key perspectives will be highlighted. First, can society find a balance of democracy and mastery of standards in today’s classroom? Second, is it possible to structure a classroom that is inclusive of each child’s individual traits and diversity?

Inclusive design highlights the importance of meeting the needs of as many users as possible. Designs may be naturally accommodating or adaptable to meet diverse personal requirements; therefore it is imperative that inclusive design be included in all stages of the design process. Inclusive design promotes an integrative approach rather than multiple separate solutions by addressing the needs of an increasing number of people in a single design solution resulting in the inclusive involvement of more people in the activities of society while keeping it cost effective .

Dalton and Gordon (2007) looked at the notion of ‘universal design for learning’. In this context ‘universal’ does not mean a single curriculum for all children but highlights the need for planning multiple approaches to a topic and a variety of resources that can, from the start, accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities

The summary of this article is to look at using technology and how it can help students with disabilities to enhance and improve their independence in academic and employment responsibilities, their participation in classroom discussions, along with helping them to accomplish some difficult academic tasks. This article discusses the role and benefits of using assistive technology in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), in academic skills, and in transition services. The article summarizes the important principles that are needed to be considered in the incorporation of technology in educating or training students with

While completing this project I have grown tremendously through not only the support and guidance from my Professor, Dr. Bush, but also my peers. It was so empowering to gain that awareness and understanding of the theories and practices that underlie our pedagogy. It is through that understanding do we gain a sense of what is most important for our students and for our own professional growth. Furthermore, my thinking was pushed when I was asked to participate and join other school colleagues at two conferences that complimented my learning in this project—that is Understand by Design with Jay McTighe and a WestEd, Quality Teaching for English Learners summer institute.

Work together with other colleagues in order to implement the Universal Designed Learning tool. Working together with other colleagues allows teachers to help others within the school, open the door for themselves to become mentored, and also allow everyone to have more detailed information on all the different students. Building a community of educators to work together is essential in order for there to be a strong foundation of collaboration to occur. For example, if Johnny is not turning in homework in science lab, but his teacher knows that he is striving in math class, the two teachers can collaborate and determine how to encourage him to turn homework in for both classes. Specifically for the Universal Designed Learning (UDL) tool,

In the reading from the week, I learned the meaning and origin behind the term Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This term which is often associated with education actually originates from the architectural field as a concept for designing services or products utilized by people with diverse functional capabilities (Beard, Carpenter, & Johnston, 2011). For educators, it is important that UDL incorporates educational accommodations, including assistive technology (AT), that allow all students to have the tools available to achieve success in the classroom. As noted, “UDL provides equal access to learning” (Beard, Carpenter, & Johnston, p. 26). It is also important that the IEP team correctly matches the assistive technology to the learner

Change is ever present, as the challenges of technology, environment and society demand our continuous attention and we struggle with issues of complexity, we see that the science, social science and humanities need a means of working together. Design research provides the orchestration, the systematization and visualization to bring together the disciplines to build bridges to the future. Such research will provide the evidence and insights upon which professional designers, industry and society can create

Centre for Applied Special Technology (CAST), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1984 that promotes the uses of technology to expand opportunities for all people, especially those with disabilities (CAST, 2004a). The work of CAST is grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach to planning and developing curricula in ways that promote access, participation, and progress in the general education curriculum for all learners (CAST, 2006). CAST is developing and exploring new digital multimedia learning tools that teachers can use in an approach to teaching that is designed to address the heterogeneity in abilities and learning styles among students.

Universal design is established seeing everyone ahead retain the ability performing effectively existing lifestyle. Consequently, innumerable universal design eminently influences our standard lifestyle. However, universal strategies advanced the achievement prior to learner literacy. Moreover, various techniques utilized such as assessment, accommodation, class climates. The ensuing paper review distinctive instructional strategies consequently universal design influence my disposition inasmuch educator.

The Unique Design Paper is an overall summary of the several concepts discussed in this course relating to unique design. It also evaluates how I can apply this new information to my life and help me figure out my life calling. Through this fresh material I have a better understanding of what I should do with the rest of my life.

Like designing for the workplace, changes can be made to the home as well to help individuals age in place. “Universal design recognizes that people’s abilities” (Dupes) and needs change throughout their lives so a design should be functional for people of all different ages and abilities. The combination of aging in place and universal design help create independence for the elderly, when they might not have it otherwise. A universally designed home tends to avoid the use of medical equipment and technology to prevent the home from feeling

Education is an instrumental part of any society that wishes to advance and function. The function of education should be to foster citizenship. Although the idea of teaching seems a simple one- teacher teaches student- there is much more to it than that, it seems because of the variety of students, resources, and teaching staff. A teacher must not lead the classroom tyrannically, they must create a healthy learning environment and level playing field for students who may be polar opposites. Paulo Freire, in his article called “The Banking Concept of Education” explains how many teachers are failing to achieve a balance in classrooms between rigidity and flexibility, the difference between a classroom that is highly structured and follows a strict curriculum and agenda, and a classroom that is discussion based, open and welcoming. My personal experiences only solidify my belief that educators are not always able to achieve a healthy learning environment. Paulo Freire's ideas about the functions of education are valid due to his accurate understanding of a classroom environment.

The purpose of this literature review is to explore how classroom design impacts student learning. The question I aim to answer is, “What factors in classroom design have shown to have the greatest impact on student learning, engagement, and academic achievement?”

trends from different cultures globally, to produce new designs and trends that are more of a