Learn About Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

What is Universal Design for Learning?


Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a flexible approach to curriculum design and implementation that offers all learners full and equal opportunities to learn. Based on research on the diverse ways people learn, UDL offers practical steps for giving everyone the chance to succeed.

A UDL author knows that each learner takes in information, expresses knowledge, and engages with learning in a unique way. The UDL framework guides authors to create books and learning materials that meet and capitalize on this diversity right from the start. To get acquainted with how UDL works, check out one of the above links!

Photographs of students in various learning environments.

UDL Guidelines

The UDL Guidelines articulate the range of options that Book Builder authors should consider when designing flexible books and media that reduce barriers and provide robust supports to all learners. The Guidelines also offer examples of practical applications, so they can be a great help when authoring with UDL. Like UDL itself, these Guidelines are flexible and should be mixed and matched in your book creation as appropriate. The UDL Guidelines are not meant to be a "prescription" but a set of principles that can be employed to overcome the barriers inherent in most existing books and curriculum.

I. Provide Multiple Means of Representation

PerceptionLanguage and symbolsComprehension

II. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression

Physical actionExpressive skills and fluencyExecutive function

For tips on using the UDL Guidelines in your authoring, please see the Book Builder Book CAST's UDL Guidelines - How you can embed suggestions from the Guidelines into your Book Builder Book! By Jenna Wasson Gravel.

The UDL Guidelines can be found here: http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines

Be sure to explore the research section in the UDL Guidelines to see how each Guideline and associated "checkpoint" are supported by research from the fields of education, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience that has been amassed over decades by many different researchers in many different universities and laboratories. This research can guide your book content authoring and the development of effective, flexible, UDL supports for your readers.