The RoboSteamSen project (2023-1-ES01-KA220-SCH-000155379) is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Typology
Methodological
Resource description
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching and learning that gives all students equal opportunity to succeed.
To understand what UDL is, it helps to understand what it’s not. The word universal may throw you off. It may sound like UDL is about finding one way to teach all students. But UDL actually takes the opposite approach.
The goal of UDL is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove any barriers to learning. It’s about building in flexibility that can be adjusted for every person’s strengths and needs. That’s why UDL benefits all learners.
Sample of use in education with students with IDD
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/universal-design-for-learning-what-it-is-and-how-it-works
https://teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/designing-your-course/universal-design-learning
Difficulties to which it could be applied
Emotional Regulation
  • Understanding Emotions
Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning and Flexibility
  • Avoidance behavior or meltdowns
Emotional Regulation, Social Communication Challenges
  • Expressing Feelings
Executive Functioning and Flexibility
  • Seeing things from different perspectives
Executive Functioning and Flexibility, Learning and Cognitive Challenges
  • Constant changing activity or task
  • Organization and planning of tasks and activities
  • Sharing a common focus
  • Time management
  • Unability to stick to tedious tasks
Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests
  • Specialized skills or talents
Sensory Processing and Sensitivities
  • Atypical response to sensory stimuli
Social Communication Challenges
  • Interaction with peers
  • Understanding social norms and rules
Learning Objetives
  • Cognitive and Behavioral Flexibility
  • Distinguising Meaningful contents
  • Enhancing Language Skills
  • Strategies for Effective Studying
  • Facilitating Peer Interaction and Social Interaction Skills
  • Improving Attention and focus
  • Improving metacognition (learning to learn)
  • Improving Social Communication Skills
  • Organization of class structure
  • Promoting Flexibility and Adaptability