What is UDL?
A quick visual guide for inclusive lessons.
Start
Learning End Goal
- Understand the Three Key Principals in UDL.
- How to utilize UDL in action.
- What UDL actually is.
- Why it matters to students.
Index
Applying UDL
What is UDL?
Sources
Why UDL Matters
Three Core Principals
What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for creating flexible designs to ensure every student can easily understand what is being delievered. It is intended to meet the needs of every learner, by providing multiple ways for students to engage, understand, and express their progress in learning.
Why UDL Matters.
Normal traditonal lessons often assume that all students learn the same way, but in real world classrooms, students come from diverse backgrounds and each student's brain works diffrently then others, each having their own learning preferences.
How it helps Teachers
- Reduces the need for re-teaching and addresses barriers early on.
- Saves time with proactive design.
- Improves engagement and reduces overwhelming students.
The Three Core Principals of UDL
Universal Design for Learning is built off of three principals that work with eachother to achieve meeting every students needs.
Applying UDL in Lesson Design
Understanding the three principals of UDL, we can see how to apply them into actual lessson design.
Examples:Engagment: Start with a real-world question or short video that connects to students’ livesRepresentation: Present content in multiple waysAction & Expression: Allowing choice in how students show learning
Tips For Implenting UDL: Start small, apply one UDL principal at a time. Always try to get student feedback, to see what works and what doesn't. Build multiple ways for students to engage in the assignment, i.e. paper copies and digital copies. Plan for accessibility and access, not afterthoughts.
Sources:
CAST. (2018). Universal Design for Learning guidelines version 3.0. CAST. https://udlguidelines.cast.org Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (2014). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice. CAST Professional Publishing. Rose, D. H., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Rose, T. (2016). The end of average: How we succeed in a world that values sameness. HarperOne. National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM Center). (2021). What is Universal Design for Learning? CAST. https://aem.cast.org/navigating/udl U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2017). Reimagining the role of technology in education: 2017 National Education Technology Plan update. https://tech.ed.gov/netp/
What is UDL ?
Caleb Carter
Created on October 15, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Dynamic Visual Course
View
Dynamic Learning Course
View
Akihabara Course
View
Basic Interactive Course
Explore all templates
Transcript
What is UDL?
A quick visual guide for inclusive lessons.
Start
Learning End Goal
Index
Applying UDL
What is UDL?
Sources
Why UDL Matters
Three Core Principals
What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for creating flexible designs to ensure every student can easily understand what is being delievered. It is intended to meet the needs of every learner, by providing multiple ways for students to engage, understand, and express their progress in learning.
Why UDL Matters.
Normal traditonal lessons often assume that all students learn the same way, but in real world classrooms, students come from diverse backgrounds and each student's brain works diffrently then others, each having their own learning preferences.
How it helps Teachers
The Three Core Principals of UDL
Universal Design for Learning is built off of three principals that work with eachother to achieve meeting every students needs.
Applying UDL in Lesson Design
Understanding the three principals of UDL, we can see how to apply them into actual lessson design.
Examples:Engagment: Start with a real-world question or short video that connects to students’ livesRepresentation: Present content in multiple waysAction & Expression: Allowing choice in how students show learning
Tips For Implenting UDL: Start small, apply one UDL principal at a time. Always try to get student feedback, to see what works and what doesn't. Build multiple ways for students to engage in the assignment, i.e. paper copies and digital copies. Plan for accessibility and access, not afterthoughts.
Sources:
CAST. (2018). Universal Design for Learning guidelines version 3.0. CAST. https://udlguidelines.cast.org Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (2014). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice. CAST Professional Publishing. Rose, D. H., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Rose, T. (2016). The end of average: How we succeed in a world that values sameness. HarperOne. National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM Center). (2021). What is Universal Design for Learning? CAST. https://aem.cast.org/navigating/udl U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2017). Reimagining the role of technology in education: 2017 National Education Technology Plan update. https://tech.ed.gov/netp/