Universal Design for Learning

Supporting Students in the Least Restrictive Environment

Presenter: Jessica Romero

Presenter Status: Graduate student

Academic Year: 22-23

Semester: Spring

Department: Educational Leadership and Special Education

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1d8NP4PudSJc-D3guiXqGLcA51NZ4d_Rc

Abstract:
The purpose of my cognate is to develop a professional development and collection of resources on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to provide educators with an overview of UDL principles and practices, and to equip them with practical strategies for implementing UDL in their classrooms. The professional development will begin with defining UDL and its history. It will include its key principles, including the recognition that learners have diverse needs, preferences, and strengths, and that instruction should be flexible and inclusive in order to meet the needs of all learners. Participants will be guided through a series of interactive activities and discussions to explore how UDL can be applied in a range of classroom settings and across subject areas. This will include a guide on how to create UDL based lesson plans as well as the exploration of UDL aligned technologies and tools. Finally, participants will be provided with resources for further exploration and implementation of UDL practices in their own classrooms and with their colleagues. By the end of this professional development, participants will have gained a deeper understanding of UDL principles and practices and will be better equipped to create inclusive learning environments that support the success of all learners.