Universal Design for Learning

 Universal Design for Learning is a way to design the learning environment to ensure that all students have experiences that are accessible and equitable for their learning needs. According to cast.org, the UDL guidelines aim to provide "learner agency that is purposeful and reflective, resourceful and authentic, and strategic and action-oriented" (CAST). 

Upon reflection of my current teaching practices, I recognized many of these guidelines that I am using in the classroom already. I often will adjust how I display or share information by using simple font, larger spacing that is easy to read, and provide descriptions or clarifications of information presented visually. However, I could add more means of representation for auditory information right now to my teaching practice. This could be providing written transcripts to videos or providing captions. Another UDL guideline refers to providing options for language, mathematical expressions, and symbols. I already provide many clarifications for vocabulary and context in my current teaching practices, such as adding synonyms, pictures, or short definitions embedded into an online text for students. I have found that this is helpful for many students who may not have as much background knowledge on a subject, are English- language learners, etc. I could add more use of text-to-speech in my teaching practice, as this has shown to be an effective learning approach for many students. I am utilizing organizers in my teaching practices, although I am always open to learning more organizers that can provide additional options for students to choose from. I also work to always make cross-curricular connections and provide opportunities for students to make connections across the subjects. For example, my students worked on a project in which they designed and planned out their own food truck business for a social studies project that integrated their economics unit in social studies with their financial literacy unit in math. I think one guideline that I could add right now to my teaching practice would be providing more opportunities to generalize learning to new situations, as this can help students transfer their learning to their everyday life now and in the future. 

There are many ideas and elements of UDL that I would like to explore more. I would like to explore the idea of UDL options for nurturing joy and play. The reason I want to explore this further is because I think the importance of nurturing joy and play can sometimes be overlooked or dismissed, however thoughtful learning and flexible thinking can come out of intentional teaching practices through play, particularly for students in primary grades. According to cast.org, "engaging in play can spark curiosity, wonder, and imagination as learners construct new understandings and develop relationships" (CAST). It's important to consider that joy is a very personal, individual feeling for every person, so there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to sparking joy in others, hence the UDL guidelines. As a librarian, I can gather feedback from students about their interests, feelings, and wonders, and the use that to implement spaces for students to explore their interests through varied activities. Some ideas for creating joy for students include storytelling, acting, collaboration, and student expertise (DesJardins, 2025). When students are engaged in their learning and find joy in learning more about the world around them, they will maintain the mindset of a life-long learning.

Sources: 

CAST, Inc. (n.d.). The UDL guidelines. The UDL Guidelines. https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

DesJardins, E. (2025, February 21). The importance of joy in learning. Open Access 2.0. https://www.openaccess-ca.org/post/the-importance-of-joy-in-learning

•