Universal Design for Learning or UDL

UDL is said to address the challenges of learner diversity and high standards.  Having created a lesson, I can begin to understand this philosophy.  Teachers are faced with a number of variables in every class for every lesson.  A teacher will have learners that are ready to move forward to higher challenges and students that need extra time and reinforcement.  This design schema allows teachers to do that in a way that still challenges those that need challenging and supporting those that need support.  With various learning phases such as group review and individualized practice student expectations can remain in line with the overall objective while still allowing for flexibility with individuals.  With a lesson scripted, a teacher can then deal with challenges that arise from moment to moment and then revert back to the lesson planned.  Although the lesson frame can be time consuming, I imagine with practice, it will become second nature to think about lessons in this format.

To take a look at what I'm talking about, check out this lesson I created for Convergent Plate Boundaries and Crustal Formations.