UDL

Multiple paths all leading to the same outcome...Universal Design for Learning

If we truly....I mean truly, want all students to learn then we must figure out where we want to go first (the destination), and then depending on where students are at......give them multiple ways of getting there. We need to allow for choices in how they want to learn.....in my own classroom I try to allow students to be in our note taking and discussion groups, but if they prefer they may also go and listen to a computer presentation, read a chapter in text,  do a personal internet search and presentation on our current topic, or many other possibilities (I also involve students in the decision making process). Then when we move on to presenting what we have learned I also allow for multiple presentation methods. 

These two methods are part of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) , two methods I try to keep in the forefront of mind whenever I am designing new curriculum. I believe these are also two methods for ensuring student engagement ....whenever you allow for student choice, you are validating the student and demonstrating respect for them as individuals and not cookie cutters.

The third area for UDL is that there should be multiple  opportunities for engagement......students should have freedom to choose how they want to interact with the material, although this is hard for the teacher to plan multiple opportunities it again allows choices for the students, which is turn promotes the value in the classroom that "you are so important to this room that I am going to make sure that your learning preferences are taken into account."

As long as we are going to end up at the same location....what difference does it make which rail you ride?