Designing inclusive learning environments

Our schools are diverse. Each student brings a unique set of experiences, abilities and interests, and differences in how they learn.

How can teachers respond to this difference and plan for all students to have access to learning in ways that work for them?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based framework that helps teachers plan learning to meet the diverse and variable needs of all students. It supports schools to realise the vision of The New Zealand Curriculum: that no-one will be left out or discriminated against.

UDL supports educators to design respectful, inclusive environments where everyone is learning and achieving and diversity is seen as a source of strength. It is based on three principles that connect teaching and learning with three primary networks of the brain – the affective network, the receptive network and the strategic network.

Applying these principles helps schools move away from the one-size-fits-all approach that can be a barrier for learners. For all students to be successful, we need to be flexible and deliberately plan a range of supports and options for our students based on sound knowledge of what we know works for them.

1. Engagement is the WHY of learning – learners differ in what motivates them to learn or keeps them engaged. So the learning environment needs to stimulate and maintain motivation.
2. Representation is the WHAT of learning – learners differ in the ways they perceive and comprehend information that is given to them. So the learning environment needs to allow for teachers to present content in a range of ways.
3. Action and expression is the HOW of learning – learners differ in the way they can navigate their learning environment and express what they know. So the learning environment needs to give students options and choices for how they share what they’ve learnt.

When these principles are applied at the outset, our students can access, participate and engage in learning in ways that work for them.

Further reading

A range of resources introducing UDL can be found online. These include general guidelines and information, as well as video demonstrations of the UDL principles in action around the country.

• Universal Design for Learning guide on the Inclusive Education website
  www.inclusive.tki.org.nz/universal-design-for-learning(external link)
• Animated video of UDL and The New Zealand Curriculum: vimeo.com/220717678
• Primary school demonstration:
  vimeo.com/100662393 (external link) 
• Secondary school environment:
  vimeo.com/225192436(external link)
• Brad (vimeo.com/225190622(external link)) and Aaron, students at the Senior Skills Academy at Otorohanga College
  (vimeo.com/225190387(external link)) talk about what helps them learn
• “Bullet points on the whiteboard. Break things down into logical steps. Take time to present information. Have things in a neat, logical order. Talk slowly and don’t be tense. Reduce background noises. Give me extra time. Give me things ahead of time. Let me ask questions.” These are some of the things Katrina Sneath asks for in her video How teachers can help me learn (vimeo.com/100662365(external link)). They challenge us to think: of all the things she asks for, how many could a teacher do now, without support? And how many other students in the class could benefit from the approaches that work for Katrina?