Today, teachers are struggling to find the right approach to dealing with the diverse learning needs of their students, their lessons need to be meaningful, accessible and interesting to students. However, less attention has been paid to instructional methods that promote full participation of all learners in classrooms. In fact, without a focus on effective practices, the change in classrooms will be lacking to meet the goal of equity and accessibility for all.
UDL (Universal Design for Learning) is a proactive approach in planning and instructional implementation that meets the needs of all learners in the inclusive classroom through multiple means of representation, multiple means of action and expression, and multiple means of engagement (CAST, 2018). It was established in the 1950s to address concerns of social justice. It aims to establish a universal approach of designing environments and instructional materials that are accessible and usable by diverse learners. It also aims at reducing barriers to learning and empowering students in classrooms. Through the UDL approach, we will learn that the “one size fits all approach” is not the solution to the classrooms of the 21st Therefore, we will discuss the way we can help students engage and be active participants in their own learning by empowering them and providing flexibility to meet their needs.