Instructional Process

As a framework, UDL requires educators to think proactively about the variability of all learners. In consideration of the UDL Critical Elements, educators implementing UDL should use a backwards design instructional process that incorporates the following five steps. 

 

Step 1: Establish Clear Outcomes
Establish a clear understanding of the goal(s) of the lesson and specific learner outcomes relate to:

  • The desired outcomes and essential student understandings and performance for every learner. (What will learning look like? What will students be able to do or demonstrate?)
  • The desired big ideas and their alignment to the established standards within the program of study that learners should understand.
  • The potential misunderstandings, misconceptions, and areas where learners may meet barriers to learning.
  • How will goals be clearly communicated to the learners, in ways that are understandable to all learners.

 

Step 2: Anticipate Learner Variability
Prior to planning the instructional experience teachers should have a clear understanding of the barriers associated with the curriculum as it related to learner variability within their environment. Understandings should minimally include:
  • Curriculum barriers (e.g., physical, social, cultural, or ability-level) that could limit the accessibility to     instruction and instructional materials.
  • Learner strengths and weaknesses specific to lesson/unit goals.
  • Learner background knowledge for scaffolding new learning.
  • Learner preferences for representation, expression, and engagement.
  • Learner language preferences.
  • Cultural relevance and understanding

 

Step 3: Measurable Outcomes and Assessment Plan
Prior to planning the instructional experience, establish how learning is going to 
be measured.  Considerations should include:
  • Previously established lesson goals and learner needs.
  • Embedding checkpoints to ensure all learners are successfully meeting their desired outcomes.
  • Providing learners multiple ways and options to authentically engage in the process, take action, and demonstrate understanding.
  • Supporting higher-order skills and encouraging a deeper connection with the content.  

 

Step 4: Instructional Experience
Establish the instructional sequence of events. At minimal plans should include:
  • Intentional and proactive ways to address the established goals, learner variability, and the assessment plan.
  • Establish a plan for how instructional materials and strategies will be used to overcome barriers and support learner understanding.  
  • A plan that ensures high-expectations for all learners and that the needs of the learners in the margins (i.e., struggling and advanced), anticipating that a broader range of learners will benefit.
  • Integrate an assessment plan to provide necessary data. 

 

Considerations should be made for how to support multiple means of..

  1. Engagement: A variety of methods are used to engage students (e.g., provide choice, address student interest) and promote their ability to monitor their own learning (e.g., goal setting, self-assessment, and reflection) 
  2. Representation: Teacher purposefully uses a variety of strategies, instructional tools, and methods to present information and content to anticipate student needs and preferences
  3. Expression & Action: Student uses a variety of strategies, instructional tools, and methods to demonstrate new understandings. 

 

Step 5: Reflection and New Understandings

 Establish checkpoints for teacher reflection and new understandings. Considerations should include:

  • Whether the learners obtained the big ideas and obtained the desired outcomes. (What data support your inference?)
  • What instructional strategies worked well? How can instructional strategies be improved?
  • What tools worked well? How could the use of tools be improved?
  • What strategies and tools provided for multiple means of representation, action/expression, and engagement?
  • What additional tools would have been beneficial to have access to and why? 
  • Overall, how might you improve this lesson?

 

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