Universal Design for Learning for Students - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to education that allows students to learn in ways that work best for them. It focuses on three key principles:

Engagement – Staying motivated and involved in your learning.

Representation – Accessing information in different ways.

Action & Expression – Demonstrating what you’ve learned using various methods.

By applying UDL principles, you can become an expert learner—someone who is purposeful, motivated, resourceful, knowledgeable, strategic, and goal-directed in their studies.

Cartoon giving an example of universal design. A bunch of children wait to enter their school, one of them is in a wheelchair. Entrance to the school is via steps or a ramp. There is snow on the ground and a man is shovelling the snow off the steps. Child in wheelchair:

Becoming an Expert Learner with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

How to Apply UDL to Your Learning

1. Engage with Learning in Ways That Work for You

What it means: Find ways to stay motivated, focused, and interested in your studies.

Tips to Try:

Set personal learning goals to keep yourself engaged.
Relate what you’re studying to real-life experiences or personal interests.
Work in a study environment that suits you—quiet spaces, background music, or study groups.
Use different ways to stay on track, like setting reminders, creating a study schedule, or using focus apps.

2. Use Multiple Ways to Access Information

What it means: You don’t have to learn everything by reading—use different formats to absorb information.

Tips to Try:

Listen to audiobooks or podcasts if reading is difficult or time-consuming.
Watch educational videos or use interactive simulations.
Use text-to-speech tools or screen readers if they help you process information better.
Explore different formats of lecture notes (e.g., slides, transcripts, or concept maps).

3. Show What You Know in Different Ways

What it means: Traditional essays and exams aren’t the only ways to prove you understand a topic—find methods that work best for you.

Tips to Try:

If possible, choose assessment methods that suit you (e.g., presentations, essays, videos, or portfolios).
Use assistive technology like speech-to-text software for writing assignments.
Organise your thoughts with mind maps, outlines, or voice recordings before starting a task.
Ask for feedback on drafts to refine your work before submission.

Why Should You Use UDL?

Applying UDL strategies helps you:

Learn more efficiently – Find methods that work best for you.
Stay motivated – Keep engagement high by making learning personal.
Adapt to different challenges – Develop skills to overcome obstacles.
Improve performance – By using multiple approaches, you retain more information and perform better in assessments.

Start Applying UDL Today!

Pick one UDL strategy to try this week:

Try a text-to-speech app for one of your readings.
Join or start a study group to stay engaged.
Organise your notes into a mind map instead of bullet points.
Ask if you can submit an alternative project instead of a traditional essay.

UDL isn’t about changing what you learn—it’s about how you learn. The more strategies you explore, the closer you get to becoming an expert learner!

To find out more about how you can use UDL to become an expert learner visit CAST.org