UDL Lesson Template

Whew! That's what my brain is saying after using the UDL template found on the CAST website. UDL stands for Universal Design for Learning. If you have never heard of this idea before, think about a building that was recently built. It should have all of the necessary structures included to allow access to all people, including those with disabilities. When I think about my church, which is over 100 years old, it really makes me understand the necessity of having "universal design." I didn't even know that there was a term for the ramps, handicapped seating, and elevators that we need to incorporate at my church. (Well, we do have seating and one elevator, but it leads to the basement, not the choir loft.)

The UDL framework incorporates three main networks for learning. If you go to the website, I highly recommend clicking on the link to learn about UDL and then on "Try a Fun Activity." Better yet, here is the activity.

1. Recognition Network

You will navigate through a few pages while viewing the same photograph. The first time you view it, you name objects in the photo. This is a demonstration of your recognition network, the network that quickly notices concepts that are familiar. I noticed a boy, a woman, a man, a chair, a door, and a frame, to name a few. This is basically WHAT you understand.

2. Strategic Network

The second time you view the photo, you are asked to explain what you see, or the purpose of the objects you identified. This is a way to exercise your strategic network, which helps you to make conclusions or inferences based on your observation and gained knowledge. I said the people were in their 30's-40's, that they lived in the early 20th century, and that the woman was surprised to see the man come home. This is WHY you understand.

3. Affective Network

The third time you view the photo, you don't actually see the photo, but you see an image of the direction of eye movement that people's eyes take when viewing the photo. Then you are asked to view the photo and explain why you think you notice parts of the photo before other parts. Here you are using your affective network, or the network that helps you to understand HOW you understand. I said that I noticed the woman first because of her dark dress and then the man because the woman was turned towards him.

Isn't that interesting? I've never looked at a photo 3 times in that way.
There is a lesson planning template that is focused on UDL, which has teachers create lessons that are geared to include the learning of all students, including those with disabilities, gifted children, or students in the special education program. It really made me think about ways to reach all of them. How do I make sure the blind student can participate, how do the gifted students remain engaged and challenged, and how do we create formative assessments that are individualized? It was a great lesson in individualized instruction.

Here is the Energy lesson that I planned.
Enjoy!