Universal design for instruction

Universal Instructional Design (UID) or Universal Design for Instruction (UDI) is a teaching process that involves considering the potential needs of all learners when designing and delivering instruction through identifying and eliminating unnecessary barriers to teaching and learning while maintaining academic rigor. Universal design is thus proactive and benefits all students, in contrast to providing accommodations for a specific student (e.g., providing a sign language interpreter for a student who is deaf).

Background

Universal Design (UD), a concept pioneered by Ron Mace at North Carolina State University and rooted in the field of architectural design, emphasizes the importance of anticipating the needs of an increasingly diverse public. UDI has been described as a goal, a process, and a collection of strategies. The goal of UDI is to maximize the learning of all students by applying UD principles to all learning products and environments. The process of UDI has been described by the Center for Universal Design in Education at the University of Washington, Seattle. A learning framework called Universal Design for Learning (UDL), developed by the Center for Applied Special Technology and supported by a comprehensive research base, stems from UD. The Center for Applied Special Technology has published a series of strategies that instructors can employ.

Each CUDE strategy is linked with relevant principles of UD and UDL. Using a different approach, Universal Design for Instruction principles were developed by researchers at the Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability at the University of Connecticut drawing on the work of Chickering and Gamson, who had originally published a set of principles for more inclusive postsecondary education, and the Principles of Universal Design.

Principles of UDI

The Center for Universal Design in Education operationalizes the combination of these principles and guidelines to create strategies for applying UD to educational products and environments.

The original seven Principles of Universal Design for products and environments established by the Center for Universal Design follow.

• Principle 1: Equitable Use
• Principle 2: Flexibility in Use
• Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive
• Principle 4: Perceptible Information
• Principle 5: Tolerance for Error
• Principle 6: Low Physical Effort
• Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use

The more specific Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides "a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all. UDL guidelines encourage curriculum designers to provide the student with options with respect to the following.

• UDL 1: Perception
• UDL 2: Language, Expressions, Symbolism
• UDL 3: Comprehension
• UDL 4: Physical Action
• UDL 5: Expressive Skills and Fluency
• UDL 6: Executive Functions
• UDL 7: Recruiting Interest
• UDL 8: Sustaining Effort and Persistence
• UDL 9: Self-Regulation

The University of Connecticut researchers and practitioners propose seven principles that set a successful implementation of Universal Design for Instruction. Four (4) of them address the materials and activities that should be used and three define the learning environment. UID specifies that the material and activities should be:

• 1: accessible and fair,
• 2: flexible,
• 3: straightforward and consistent and
• 4: explicit, while the learning environment should:
• 5: be supportive,
• 6: minimize unnecessary physical effort, and
• 7: accommodate students and multiple teaching methods.

Universal Design for Instruction includes two more principles related to the delivery environment:

• 8: Tolerance for Error
• 9: Size and Space for Approach and Use

Examples of UD Applied to Instruction

Ways of applying UD to courses include

• Delivery Methods: Use a of variety of delivery methods and learning approaches, including lecture, discussion, hands-on activities, projects, cases, internet-based interaction, etc. These should be accessible to students with a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and previous experiences.
• Learning Methods: Print materials should be available in electronic format. Provide text descriptions of graphics presented on web pages. Use presentation tools to make presentations legible in large spaces. Use captioned videotapes. Provide outlines in advance to allow students to prepare for the topic to be presented. Create printed and web-based materials in simple, intuitive, and consistent formats.
• Interaction: Encourage different ways for students to interact with each other and with the facilitator. This may include in-class questions and discussion, group work, and Internet-based communications.
• Feedback: Provide effective prompting during an activity and feedback after the assignment is complete. Use feedback to help correct errors and misconceptions. Allow opportunities for self-assessment. Ensure that web or any electronic based learning tools provide proper feedback for both navigation and learning.
• Assessment/Demonstration of Knowledge: Ensure that students’ opportunity to demonstrate knowledge is frequent and if possible, flexible. Consider options besides tests and papers for demonstrating knowledge, such as group work, demonstrations, portfolios, and presentations.
• Physical Effort and Access: Ensure that classrooms, labs, and field work are accessible to individuals with a wide range of physical abilities. Make sure equipment and activities minimize sustained physical effort, and accommodate people with different physical abilities. Ensure the safety of all students. Minimize the need for unnecessary physical travel by making materials available or allowing them to be submitted electronically.

References

• Universal Design in Higher Education
• Scott, S., McGuire, J.M., & Embry, P. (2002). Universal design for instruction fact sheet. Storrs: University of Connecticut, Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability
• Applying Universal Instructional Design, University of Minnesota
• Universal Instructional Design in Post Secondary Education
• Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning - CAST