UDL Lesson Reflection

Designing a UDL lesson was fun and a little daunting. Universal design for learning is an educational concept based on architectural universal design. In architecture, universal design creates buildings that are more accessible for all people. Education has taken this concept and come up with universal design for learning, which similarly gives better access to educational concepts and curriculum to all students. It not only will help struggling students to close their achievement gap, but it will also provide enrichment and growth opportunities for higher-achieving and gifted students.

The lesson created in this week's assignment is something I am wanting to go and do at my school, even though I do not tech that subject or that grade level anymore. I got really excited about it. Our group was doing a 6th grade social studies lesson. We decided to create a unit where students work in groups to present a mock-G8 summit. Students are divided into heterogeneous groups by teacher and are assigned a country from the G8 membership that their group will represent. Within the groups, students will divide up roles and responsibilities. They will be responsible for researching and being able to present on the government, geography, economy, etc., of their assigned country. They will also choose from three options a final product to turn in demonstrating their group's research and learning. Groups will be able to turn in a power point presentation, a photo story, or a digital poster. Students will be given rubrics to know how their learning will be assessed for both the final products and summit presentations.

This is a complex project and learning unit, but it does allow for lots of differentiation for students. They will be able to pick what type of product they would like to turn in. Students will be in hgeterogeneous groups, allowing for stronger members to help those who need it. Students will have access to print, electronic, and audio resources for their research. Groups will be able to divide up roles on their own, so that students can be matched to a role within the group that is most suited to their own strengths.