My journal by Rebekah Black

What is UDL?

rblack55 — 2025-07-14 16:50:50 UTC

To me, UDL is something that can be used in the classroom to help educators reach each student to help them succeed from the beginning of a lesson and not just at the end. It is a planning tool that can also help break down the lesson to make sure that there are no barriers affecting students ability to learn the concept. UDL can help teachers change ways that they present information to make the information more accessible and engaging for students. I liked in the UDL In The Cloud textbook that it mentioned that a lot of teachers deliver information the traditional way when it is not that beneficial for students. I have always thought that and have learned in my own classes that many kids do not like it and learn better in many other ways.

How is UDL different from the differentiation strategies or teaching methods you’ve used in your practice?

rblack55 — 2025-07-14 16:55:17 UTC

UDL is different from the differentiation that I have used since starting teaching.In my first year of teaching, I did a lot of traditional teaching and only offered differentiation at the end of lessons when I needed to modify assignments for certain students. I have not really ever used UDL in my classroom or in planning, and can now see that might be why, in some lessons, student engagement and motivation to complete assignments are low.

Reflect on a specific learner you’ve taught or observed who did not thrive in a traditional learning environment. How might (or did) a UDL framework have shifted your approach or their experience?

rblack55 — 2025-07-14 16:56:45 UTC

One student I have had two years in a row, and I have seen that the traditional method of teaching does not work for them. I think that if I had used multiple means for engagement, he may have been more successful in my class. Minimizing distractions would help him stay on task and complete the work in the given time. I think also giving him autonomy and individual choice when it came to certain things would have helped his overall performance increase and helped his motivation. Like one of the infographics listed in the Module 1 resources, talking about myths of UDL, said, UDL lessons can be fun, but they also need to be worthwhile. I think that he would have preferred a bunch of fun lessons and activities, but I do not think that they would have been worthwhile or as beneficial as other means of learning.Finding ways to incorporate UDL practices into my lessons may also help other students like him succeed.

How do you think your content area (or current role in education) either facilitates or complicates the implementation of UDL principles

rblack55 — 2025-07-14 16:57:14 UTC

I think that my area of Family and Consumer Science can really facilitate the implementation of UDL principles. Since we cover so many different topics and many deal with skills that will be beneficial to students later in life, having them be able to have the autonomy to learn the best way for them that is also the most engaging would help their learning, limit distractions, and better help them develop the ability to assess their skills individually. By doing this, I think that it could help me as the teacher monitor progress and maximize the transfer of information to their lives outside of the classroom. Overall, I think implementing UDL practices in my classroom would help many more students succeed.