Contours of Inclusion:

The Intersection between the Arts and

Universal Design for Learning

What is Universal Design?

"The term 'universal design' means a concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products and services that are usable by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities, which include products and services that are directly accessible (without requiring assistive technologies) and products and services that are interoperable with assistive technologies."

(Section 3(17)of Assistive Technology Act of 1998)

What is Universal Design?

• Not one size fits all – but alternatives for everyone.

• Not added on later – but designed from the beginning.

• Not access for some – but access for everyone.

What do we mean byWhat do we mean by UniversalUniversal ??

What do we mean by Design?

Affect

Skills

KnowledgeMultiple representations of information

Multiple optionsfor expression and action

Multiple meansof engagement

What do we mean by Learning?

BarriersBarriers• We find barriers

to our goals many places in nature.

BarriersBarriers

Universal Design in Architecture

“Consider the needs of the broadest possible range of users from the beginning”

Architect, Ron Mace -Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, 1989

– Translate to Universal Design for Learning – The “danger” the retrofit (fixing up after the

design is complete)

Technology Can Technology Can Support Learning Support Learning

in Thoughtful, Elegant Ways

What is the link between architecture and curriculum?

“Consider the needs of the broadest possible range of users from the beginning”

-- Architect, Ron Mace

• Barrier “free” architecture usually benefits all users

• curb cuts• ramps, elevators• door handles

• Accessible schools and accessible tools are needed – benefits observed for many

• Frequently, curriculum presentation creates barriers

A UDL approach assumes that students with varying needs will be involved in learning, and that the curriculum:

the goals,the instructional methods,the assessments, andthe materials

need to address this diversity.

Universal Design for Learning

• Curricula and tools designed to meet the needs of all learners

• Supports for diverse learners built in from the start

• Frequently more effective for all learners, even “typically developing”

UDL PrinciplesUDL Principles

1. Provide alternative formats for presenting information (multiple or transformable accessible media).

2. Provide alternative means for action and expression (write, draw, speak, switch, graphic org., etc.).

3. Provide alternative means for engagement (background knowledge, options, challenge and support).

Representation

• How is content presented?

• How do students create meaning?

IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.

IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,

Tale of Two Cities…It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom,

Tale of Two Cities…It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom,

Examples in CAST WorkExamples in CAST Work

Representation

“Google Project”www.cast.org

Guidelines in Representation

• Extract important information

• Rely on context and background

• Make connections

• Give meaning to abstract representations

• multiple formats and media

• multiple examples

• critical features

• context and background knowledge

Represent information in multiple ways

2 + 3 = 5

6 + 4 = 10

7 + 2 = 9

4 + 3 = 7

5 + 8 = 19 + 8 = 5

What’s the Sum?What’s the Sum?

2 + 9 =

4 + 9 =

11

1

Strategic

What’s the Sum?What’s the Sum?

9 + 1 = 10

9 + 2 =

9 + 3 =

9 + 4 =

9 + 5 =

9 + 6 =

1112

1

2

3

12

6

39

Expression & Action

• Provide motor control for skilled actions

• Plan strategies for solving problems– Use feedback to modify

• Active during learning or “effort”

• Monitor routines

Examples in CAST WorkExamples in CAST Work

www.cast.org

Supporting Strategic

Provide multiple pathways for action and expression

• flexible ways to demonstrate learning

• models

• feedback

• practice (with supports)

• problems to solve

Engagement Engagement

• What will make this interesting?

• What will make this challenging?

How do you like this?

How tall is a female if her femur is 46.2 centimeters long? (h = height)

Bone Male Female

Femur h = 69.089 + 2.238F

h = 61.412 + 2.317F

Tibia h = 81.688 + 2.392T

h = 72.572 + 2.533T

Humerus h = 73.570 + 2.970H

h = 64.977 + 3.144H

Radius h = 80.405 + 3.650R

h = 73.502 + 3.876R

Affect

• Influence choices

• Filter out unimportant

• Focus us toward challenging, enjoyable

Examples in CAST WorkExamples in CAST Work

www.cast.org

Supporting Engagement

Provide multiple ways to engage

• Choices – Content

– Tools

– Rewards

– Context

• Levels of challenge

Principles of UDL

Provide multiple…• representations of content

(Recognition)

• pathways for action and expression (Strategic)

• ways to engage

(Affective)

www.cast.org