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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning, according to its authors Anne Meyer and David Rose. It is your responsibility to provide accessible and equitable learning environments for your students. While the following items comprise a comprehensive use of UDL, you may use whatever specific components work for your course.

UDL comprises three major frameworks

1. Multiple Means of Representation: Present content and information in different ways. Appeal to visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic learners through readings, videos, case studies, and lectures that enable all students to meet learning objectives.
2. Multiple Means of Action & Expression: Differentiate ways the students can demonstrate what they know. Provide more than one way for students to complete an assessment that still allows all students to achieve its learning objectives.
3. Multiple Means of Engagement: Stimulate interest and motivation for learning. Are students retaining knowledge and achieving learning objectives during these times?

3 Recommendations for Representation

1. Encourage Zoom participation in full class verbally (raise hand to respond to a question or provide further insight) or through written means (write question or insight in Zoom chat).
2. If you pre-record a lecture, enable captions and provide a downloadable written transcript. Consider recording your lecture through Panopto.
3. Inform students of their free use of the “Read & Write Gold” text-to-speech reader. Students don’t need a specific accommodation to use this.

3 Recommendations for Action & Expression

1. Consider non-writing ways for students to complete assignments. Do you allow them to record a video, produce a timeline, or even develop an offline/tangental project they then photograph and submit?
2. Hold small groups’ ideas (demonstrating what they know and learn from each other) accountable by typing summary of discussion or responses to specific prompts on a Canvas discussion board.
3. Does the rubric capture students’ completion of assignment objectives regardless of submission format?

3 Recommendations for Engagement

1. Facilitate reflection, critique, and community from readings through a platform like Perusall or Hypothes.is.
2. Use an asynchronous discussion forum to garner interest on topics before class, like Padlet.
3. Develop case studies and problems that are current and relevant. Consider what students could apply to their internships/jobs the next day.

Other UDL Resources

• Watch this Universal Design for Learning overview, led by Jim Stachowiak, assistant director of assistive technology at AccessibleNU. 
• Watch this TedX talk on The Myth of Average by Harvard Educational Neuroscience Professor Todd Rose.

• Listen to this podcast on Design for Learner Equity, by Kevin Kelly, lecturer at the San Francisco State University Department of Equity, Leadership Studies & Instructional Technologies.