Reflection

This artifact is a web-based resource provided by the Harvard Graduate

School of Education. It provides an overview of UDL which I thought was
informative. Its subtitle “Eliminating barriers in the design of the learning
environment to make curriculum accessible for all” is in a nutshell the spirit
of UDL.

This article first discusses the origin and development of UDL. Staff
member David Rose developed the idea that curricula may be disabled, not
the student! Time and effort should be spent fixing the curriculum, not the
student. To eliminate barriers in the design of the learning environment
Rose proposed UDL which promotes supporting every child in the
classroom.

There are three main principles of UDL:

● Multiple means of representation: provide various ways to acquire
information and knowledge
● Multiple means of expression: alternatives to express what they
know
● Multiple means of engagement: utilizes interests, offer appropriate
challenges and increase motivation

The three elements of UDL resonate with Howard Gardner’s Theory of

Multiple Intelligences which was proposed in 1983. He studied children and
young adults with brain lesions. If a brain function or ability is damaged,
others remain intact and owing to plasticity other pathways may develop.
Gardner felt that a single intelligence or IQ is too limited to evaluate a
person’s abilities, too much emphasis was placed on linguistic and
mathematical intelligences. His theory is a system to understand why
people are smart. He proposed that there are nine types of intelligence or
intellectual abilities. A person has a certain aptitude for each type of
intelligence. For example a person proficient in logical-mathematical
intelligence would be a good mathematician. A person proficient in visual-
spatial intelligence would excel as an artist or engineer. Proficiency in other
intelligences could yield a chef, a poet, a musician, an athlete or an
investment banker among others. Importantly, the specific intelligences are
in flux, changing in response to a person’s experiences and personal
growth. We do not have to learn or teach in all nine intelligences. It is
important to recognize the most effective/efficient intelligence(s) and help
students utilize them to become proficient.

Incorporating variable strategies into classroom work will heighten the

interest of more students as specific intelligences of more children should
be engaged and promote learning. An example involves the Broadway
play Hamilton. This musical uses singing and rapping to tell the story of
Alexander Hamilton and is based on a biography written by historian Ron
Chernow. Many students have been positively affected as the play brings
characters with music that they enjoy. Gardner would say that the music
intelligence has been stimulated. For many students a boring topic has
been brought to life and they may be stimulated to learn more. The effect
is so profound that Northwestern University will utilize this technique for
several different subjects (Unrau, R., 2015).

UDL is a repudiation of standardized education left over from the industrial

revolution. It recognizes it is vital, and possible with today’s technology to
acknowledge differences among students. An example is using a computer
to lower barriers to learning. The computer can access data not available in
the classroom, including a Broadway play. It also can provide many ways
of expression - writing, recording a video and now drawing with the
availability of devices such as the Apple pencil. Advances in technology will
keep lowering barriers for general education special education students.