Week 3, Assignment #3, UDL & CAST UDL Lesson Analysis

WHAT IS UDL

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework that has its base on research conducted in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences. UDL is an important educational framework that can assist us educators tremendously in designing and delivering curriculum for an increasingly diverse student population nowadays. 

Before planning any type of curriculum, it is important that the educator takes into consideration the three important questions: 

Why?

What?

How?

The "Why" of learning refers to Engagement

The teacher should help students use their critical thinking and understand exactly whey are they learning what they learn by encouraging them to participate, offering that way multiple types of engagement that makes learning inviting and meaningful for the students.

The "What" of learning refers to Representation

The teacher can and should help the student in the learning process by providing information in such ways that activate any prior knowledge of the students and invite them to acquire new knowledge in every level.

The "How" of learning refers to Action & Expression

Here the teacher can provide the student with various ways and tools of action and expression of the knowledge that the student has gained. It is same important for the student to be able to express what he/she has gained.

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Analysis of a Lesson Plan

The "Why" of learning refers to Engagement

According to the lesson, the students are asked to express their prior knowledge regarding the life cycle of the butterflies, causing their interest prior to the start of the lesson and the activities that are associated with the lesson activities. Referring to lesson objectives and goals at the start of the lesson enables students to sense what are they going to learn and why.

The "What" of learning refers to Representation

The lesson involves several types of media, such as texts, graphics, video, website. Those are important resources that will encourage student’s learning process by helping them comprehend the topic in details.

The "How" of learning refers to Action & Expression

In this lesson, the students have the choice to work in peers or independently in an effort to find out more about the specific topic of the lesson. They can also choose how they will present the information they collected from different sources. They can express their knowledge through the different centers that were set:

·       Make a Book Center (students can author their own book about the life cycle of butterflies)

·       Writing Center (Students write about the life cycle of butterflies in a format comfortable for them)

·       Art Center (Students create their own representation of the life cycle of butterflies, after a template is provided by the teacher)

·       Graphic Organizer Center (Students complete one of the two life cycle maps (provided by the teacher) on or off the computer. Here students can use either words or pictures to complete their maps.

It seems that throughout this lesson, students are encouraged to communicate their knowledge and understanding in various levels while exploring and learning on this topic.

SOURCE:

Lesson plan: The Life Cycle of Butterflies, Day1