April 3, 2008
UDL Guidelines 1.0 Issued, Support More Inclusive Curriculum
Landmark document to extend learning opportunities for all students
Wakefield, MA, April 3, 2008 -- In a landmark announcement, CAST today issued the first public working draft of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines to help educators design learning experiences and curricula that are more accessible, effective, and engaging for all students.
Building on the premise that, in any classroom, the diversity of student abilities, needs, and learning styles is the norm rather than the exception, these Guidelines will help educators across K-12 and postsecondary evaluate existing or planned curricula and devise ways to better meet the challenge of diversity.
"This first draft of the UDL Guidelines distills lessons learned from our two decades of research, development, and practice of Universal Design for Learning," says David H. Rose, Co-Founder and Chief Education Officer at CAST. "The Guidelines reflect years of collaboration, sharing, and debate with some of the best education researchers and practitioners the world over."
CAST has established a blog at http://udlguidelines.edublogs.org to foster a conversation that includes stories of UDL implementation, examples of best practices, and suggestions for improvement. CAST will update the document periodically to reflect user recommendations as well as changes in the learning sciences and technology.
"This draft is not the final word," says Rose. "Our hope is that the UDL Guidelines will be a living document, one that is improved dramatically in coming years by the suggestions and contributions of those who are applying UDL in their classrooms, conducting related research, and addressing UDL's place in education policy."
UDL is an educational framework to create and implement flexible curriculum that simultaneously reduces barriers to learning while providing robust educational supports. UDL addresses all the whole curriculum, including instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments.
The UDL Guidelines are organized according to the three main principles of UDL that address representation, expression, and engagement. For each of these areas, specific "Checkpoints" for options are highlighted, followed by examples of practical suggestions for making learning accessible to a greater number of students.
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CAST is a nonprofit research and development organization that has earned international recognition for its efforts to expand educational opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning. To learn more, go to www.cast.org.
