Applying UDL Principles in the Classroom

It's impossible to predict what combination of strengths and weaknesses any particular student will possess, so materials in the classroom need to be flexible to accommodate students with wide differences in how they access, process or interpret information.

Two particular challenges help to make the case for the use of new technologies in the classroom to ensure academic achievement for all students:

• Text-based materials that dominate the classroom present information in a single format, which has proven to be limiting for many students
• Test taking where students are often measured on comprehending the instructions instead of showcasing the knowledge they have acquired

Rather than creating special accommodations for struggling students as an afterthought, Universal Design for Learning encourages educators to seek out tools that students of all abilities can use.

Letting students use these tools to learn and take the same tests as their peers allows them to become truly independent and confident learners.