Universal Design for Learning

 Universal Design for Learning and How to Implement-

 

A universal design for learning is based on principles that support diverse students by providing them multiple means of representation, action, expression, and engagement. When the universal design is implemented in school libraries, it provides learning opportunities for a wide range of students, leading to independence for students with disabilities. The guidelines I am using daily are perception, when I offer students’ content in different forms. Guideline two, language and symbols, when I use clarifying vocabulary and symbols in the library. Lastly, guideline seven, sparking excitement and curiosity for learning. I could add guideline four, physical action, tomorrow in my library by varying students’ methods of response to their learning as well as optimizing access to tools and assistive technology.

Guidelines eight, sustaining effort and persistence, guideline six, executive functions, and guideline three, comprehension, will benefit my students when I learn ways to best implement them in my library. I was reading more about executive functions from a udl guidelines website, UDL: Executive Functions (cast.org), and I found it informative when discussing how difficult it can be for any learner to maintain chunks of information accessible for comprehension and problem-solving, and even more difficult for learners with cognitive disabilities. This website is also helpful when exploring the research backing up this idea. This article Classroom Accommodations for Executive Function Challenges | Understood gives some great ideas to help learners improve their executive functions. An article from Harvard Health Publishing, Executive function in children: Why it matters and how to help - Harvard Health, dives deeper into why executive functions are so important in children and how they affect students in the classroom. I also found a great book by Roberta Strosnider and Valerie Sharpe, called The Executive Function Guidebook: Strategies to Help All Students Achieve Success, which would be a helpful resource for teachers and librarians.