Supporting Diverse Learners through Universal Design for Learning

Supporting Teachers Using UDL

In Craig, Smith & Frey (2022), they discussed the UDL framework along with a study that shows how they assisted teachers in applying this framework, to prove its effectiveness. They started off with an overview of the UDL framework, discussing what it is, why it is important, and who it helps. This framework is set to assist teachers and students in a growing world of diverse learners, especially those with disabilities. As of right now, there are not too many PD resources provided for teachers to include UDL in their instruction. They stated the guidelines for this framework, how it facilitates inclusion through engagement, representation, and action & expression. Each piece is broken down, discussed, and classroom examples are provided, to show how this can be used in a classroom. They then laid out the study, which was taken to show an effective PD model for teachers to implement the UDL framework. They used a teacher success rubric to analyze teachers' practices who did not attend the professional development, and who were able to attend. All in all, it showed that teachers who attended professional development scored higher than teachers who did not.

When analyzing the UDL guidelines in the article, I noticed how my lesson illustrates some of these pieces. More specifically, one example is when Craig, Smith & Frey (2022) “This principle focuses the teacher on meeting the emotional and social needs of their learners and recognizes that all learners need to connect with their learning, sustain their efforts and exercise self-regulation skills (e.g. coping, self-reflection) to reach goals.” Through the narrative writing in my lesson, students are able to utilize stories from their own life experiences in their story. In using their own life, they are able to connect with their writing, and learning. 

UDL & Narrative Writing

Based on the UDL guidelines, there are a few resources and strategies I can integrate into my lesson to meet the needs of all types of learners. One strategy I can do is ensuring rigor and support are truly effective. In the UDL Guidelines (2026) it says “Presume competence and nurture a belief in the capabilities of every learner.”I can do this by providing simpler narrative outlines and more advanced ones that go more in depth. By having a variety of resources, for the same task, each student will be challenged for their level. Another strategy I could use is issuing rubrics solely based on effort and goals rather than on overall performance. In the UDL Guidelines (2026) it says “Offer feedback that emphasizes effort, improvement, and achieving a goal rather than on relative performance.” I can create a rubric, for their narrative writing piece, that focuses on them putting forth effort into their narrative, instead of the intricate details, such as grammar, syntax, word choice, etc.

NETP & UDL Strategies

In the NETP (2024) it discusses the implementation of UDL strategies to address the Digital Use Divide, and how the framework can truly enhance the divide, using it to meet the needs of all learners. For example, it states “This flexibility extends to providing students with the option to use a variety of different digital and analog tools to demonstrate their learning.” Being that there are so many digital tools, there are so many resources that can meet the needs of diverse learners. The UDL framework is meant to help teachers provide that for students, giving them different tools to fit their learning, and technology can do just that, especially since the internet has a variety of resources. 

References: 

Stephanie L. Craig, Sean J. Smith, & Bruce B. Frey. (2022). Professional development with universal design for learning: Supporting teachers as learners to increase the implementation of UDL. Professional Development in Education, 48(1), 22–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2019.1685563

CAST. (n.d.). Universal Design for Learning guidelines. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from UDL Guidelines website 

Office of Educational Technology. (2024). A call to action to close the technology access, design, and use divides: National educational technology plan (NETP 2024). U.S. Department of Education. NETP2024.pdf.