UDL Strengths and Challenges

My ultimate goal is to be able to create lessons that incorporate all of the UDL guidelines, so I'm able to meet the needs of all of my students. I have taken a previous math lesson (exploring perimeter and area) that I've taught and used the UDL guidelines and checkpoints to pre-assess it. Through this pre-assessment, I have discovered my strongest UDL areas and those that require further development.

Strengths: 

• Offer ways of customizing the display of information
• Clarifying vocabulary and symbols
• Varying methods for response and navigation
• Use multiple tools for construction and composition
• Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity
• Minimize threats and distractions

Weaknesses: 

• Offer alternatives for auditory/visual information
• Activating background knowledge
• Providing options for self-regulating (self-assessment/reflection)
• Providing options for sustaining effort and persistence
• Guiding appropriate goal setting

A specific UDL objective I want to focus closely on is providing options for developing self-assessment and reflection. I want my students to recognize their own progress towards mastery of a concept or skill. This self-regulation promotes higher levels of achievement and motivation. I want to offer my students multiple self-assessment techniques, so they can choose the one that works best for them.