Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

Ashley Holbrooks

Content Area: Algebra

Check Select one below:
Selected

Interpret the structure of expressions

Use polynomial identities to solve problems

Create equations that describe numbers or relationships

​​✅ Solve systems of equations

Select another that works for you!

Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

How you can address the UDL principles for the selected information above?
Determine what tools can be used to support and enhance student learning
BY ALL students.

Mild Intellectual Disability

Low Tech ideas:

● Reading helper- Students will be able to use the reading helper when
reading word problems.
● Sentence strips and objects/symbols- The sentence strips and
objects/symbols will help the student break down each problem so that
he/she is able to better understand what is being asked of them.

High Tech ideas:

● BoardMaker- Students will be able to use symbols and pictures to help

communicate their responses in the lesson/assignments.
● Inspiration/Kidspiration- Students will be able to use the graphic organizers
on the technology to participate in the activities and assist with
communicating their answers

Supportive APPS:

● Panther Math Paper- This app allows students to do math without a pencil. It
also includes many different settings, math tools, shapes, and the ability to
lock equations to prevent unwanted edits. This app will allow students to use
as many, or as few, supports and tools they think they need to solve the
problem.
● Inspiration Maps VPP- This app allows students to create diagrams, graphic
organizers, and outlines. This will allow students to make a visual picture of
what they know and also make a study tool that works best for them.

UDL Strategy (Wheel):

● Options for Perception-​ Provide visual diagrams, charts, written transcripts of

videos, and information in a flexible format (ex: different text sizes,
background colors, graphs, etc.) Every student perceives and comprehends
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

information differently. So, this will allow the student with a mild intellectual
disability to get the information in different ways that are easier for them to
understand.
● Options for Executive Functions​- Encourage students to “stop and think”
before acting or process information by “thinking aloud,” use checklists, and
set short term goals that are reachable. Students with mild intellectual
disabilities may get easily discouraged when they don’t understand
something. However, by giving them checklists and setting reachable
short-term goals will show them that they are understanding the information
and are learning the content.
● Options for Sustaining Efforts & Persistence​- Use prompts to formulate or
restate goals, use technology to set reminders, allow opportunities for peer
tutoring, collaboration, and peer support. Also, highlight the process, effort,
and improvement of students in meeting standards. By doing this, students
with a mild intellectual disability will be self motivated, engaged in what they
are doing, and not be solely judged on external performances.

Attention Difficulties
Low Tech ideas:
● Removable highlighter tape- Students who struggle with paying attention will
be asked to highlight key terms and definitions during note-taking. Hopefully,
this will allow them to follow along with the lesson.
● Koosh Ball- Students will be supplied a koosh ball to help them focus.
Hopefully, keeping the students hands hard at work on the koosh ball will
allow them to focus more on the lesson.

High Tech ideas:

● Online Virtual Manipulatives- Students will be able to use the virtual

manipulatives to keep them engaged in the lesson or assignment while their
attention difficulties needs are being met.
● Touch Window - Students will be able to complete assignments on the
Touch Window to continue being active in the class but also supporting their
attention difficulties.
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

​Supportive APPS:

● Reminders App- The reminders app on Apple products allows you to make
checklists, alarms for when something needs to be done, and also set how
important that task is. This app will allow students with attention difficulties to
make a list of items that need to be done, check them off when they are
completed, and also set reminders if they do not complete the assignment by
a certain time.
● PicCollage Grid & Photo Editor- This app is a photo editing app that allows
people to make collages, wallpapers, cards, etc. For students with attention
difficulties, they could use this app to create a visual collage of what they
know, instead of sitting through a lecture or assessment. By doing this, they
can be creative in how they present the information and show what they
know in a new and different way.
● Inspiration Maps VPP- This app allows students to create diagrams, graphic
organizers, and outlines. This will allow students to make a visual picture of
what they know and also make a study tool that works best for them.

UDL Strategy (Wheel):

● Options for Comprehension​- Activate prior knowledge, highlight patterns, big

ideas, and relationships. Present information in smaller “chunks”, and also
use checklists, organizers, sticky notes, electronic reminders, and mnemonic
strategies. By doing this, students with attention difficulties will be able to
stay on track by using their checklist and/or organizer, and they will be able
to comprehend the information better if it is in smaller chunks and not get
overwhelmed.
● Options for Executive Functions​- Encourage students to “stop and think”
before acting or process information by “thinking aloud,” use checklists, and
set short term goals that are reachable. It is easier for students with attention
difficulties to reach short term goals, rather than have long term goals that
take longer to accomplish and allow more time to get off track.
● Options for Recruiting Interest​- Provide students with choices in the level of
challenge, types of tools used, design, what activity they want to do, and how
they receive the information. Also, let them make their own personal
academic and behavioral goals. By allowing students to have an active role
in their learning, they will be able to have a major role in how they learn the
information, which will help them be more self-motivated.
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

Physical Disabilities
Low Tech ideas:
● Rubber stamps- For a student who has a lack of strong fine motor skills
when writing, rubber stamps can be supplied. These stamps can include
letters and numbers and can help with tasks such as writing one’s name.
● Page Holders- Page holders will hold math tables, worksheets, etc. These
come in handy for a student who has difficulty holding materials.
● Finger Grip Ruler- A grip ruler allows students to grip the ruler from the
center. This can also help a student who has trouble fine tuning their motor
skills.

High Tech ideas:

● ​ ext readers- Students will be able to use the text reader to listen to lessons
T
or assignments if they have a physical disability that involves their hands.

Supportive APPS:

● Talking Calculator HD- Students will be able to use the Talking Calculator
app to speak out the calculations they need to assist with their physical
disabilities.
● Voice Recorder- Students will be able to use the Voice Recorder app to
record lessons and assignments to assist with their physical disabilities (i.e.
writing disability)

UDL Strategy (Wheel):

● Options for Perception​- Provide visual diagrams, charts, written transcripts of

videos, and information in a flexible format (ex: different text sizes,
background colors, graphs, etc.) For students with physical disabilities, this
will allow them to receive the same information as the other students, but in
a way that is more accessible to them.
● Options for Physical Action​- Provide alternatives for physically interacting
with materials, responding to questions, and the use of technology. Options
for this are alternative keyboards, voice command technologies, touch
screens, etc. By doing this, every student will be able to participate and not
feel left out for having a disability.
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

● Options for Sustaining Efforts & Persistence​- Use prompts to formulate or

restate goals, use technology to set reminders, allow opportunities for peer
tutoring, collaboration, and peer support. Also, highlight the process, effort,
and improvement of students in meeting standards. By doing this, students
can show that they are understanding and improving without the use of tests
or other assessments. Also, by capitalizing on their improvements in those
areas, they will gain more self-confidence and self-motivation.

English as a Second Language

Low Tech ideas:
● Magnetic sheets/business cards- Students can form their thoughts through
sentences. These sentences can be created from cutting magnetic
sheets/business cards to create numbers, letters, words, or sentence stems.
● Velcro enhanced books- Teachers will cut out graphics from these books to
help narrate what is being asked for throughout the math lesson.

High Tech ideas:

● Text-to-Speech- students will use to translate their written language into

spoken words that their fellow classmates will be able to comprehend.
● Word prediction that works with any word processor- students will be able to
use the word prediction technology to assist with their developing language.

Supportive APPS:

● Voxy- Voxy provides games on a variety of topics for language practice, plus
short quizzes to test comprehension.
● Busuu- This is a language learning app loaded with over 3,000 words and
phrases to help students become acclimated to learning English.

UDL Strategy (Wheel):

● Options for Perception​- Provide visual diagrams, charts, written transcripts of

videos, and information in a flexible format (ex: different text sizes,
background colors, graphs, etc.) This will allow ELs to have access to the
content and still learn the information, even if they are still building their
proficiency in English.
● Options for Expressive Skills & Fluency​- Present information in multiple
media, such as text, voice, illustration, film, music, etc. Allow students access
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles

to spell checkers, grammer checkers, speech-to-text software,

manipulatives, outlines, concept maps, etc. By doing this, ELs have the
same access to information as non-ELs, and also tools to help them build
their proficiency in English and also their native language.
● Options for Recruiting Interest​- Provide students with choices in the level of
challenge, types of tools used, design, what activity they want to do, and how
they receive the information. Also, let them make their own personal
academic and behavioral goals. By allowing students to have an active role
in their learning, they will be able to have a major role in how they learn the
information in a way that is best for them, which will help them be more
self-motivated.

Sensory Impairment
Auditory Visual

Low Tech ideas: Low Tech ideas:

● Captioning- Students with
auditory impairments can be
given PowerPoint print outs of
the lesson with notes included
(teacher’s commentary).
High Tech Ideas:
● Electronic text (etext)- Students
will be able to use the electronic
text to visually keep up with the
assignments/lesson to assist
with their auditory impairment.
Supportive APPS:
● Sign for Me- This app will help
students who are trying to
communicate with students with
auditory impairments. The app
will show a full-body avatar that
● Bar magnifiers- Students who
struggle with recognizing small
fonts can use bar magnifiers to
read word problems and recognize
math functions.
● Jumbo rulers- Students can use
jumbo rulers with enlarged
numbers and lines when graphing.
High Tech ideas:
● Text readers- Students will be able
to use the text readers to hear the
assignments or lesson to assist
with their auditory
● Loc Dots- Students will be able to
use the Loc Dots to assist with
completing assignments in the
lesson.
● Alternative Keyboard, e.g.,
IntelliKeys Keyboard- Students will
be able to use the alternative
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles
provides sign-language
instruction.
● Hearing Helper- Students can
press the red button on this app
and it will “listen” and then turn
the speech into text.
UDL Strategy (Wheel):
● Options for Perception​- Provide
visual diagrams, charts, written
transcripts of videos, and
information in a flexible format
(ex: different text sizes,
background colors, graphs, etc.)
For students with auditory
impairments, having the
information in written or visual
UDL Strategy (Wheel):
form will still allow them to have
access to the content.
● Options for Expressive Skills &
Fluency​- Present information in
multiple media, such as text,
illustration, film, etc. Allow
students access to spell
checkers, grammer checkers,
manipulatives, outlines, concept
maps, etc. These things will
allow students with auditory
impairment a way to express
what they know and show they
are gaining fluency.
● Options for Sustaining Efforts &
Persistence​- Use prompts to
formulate or restate goals, use
technology to set reminders,
allow opportunities for peer
tutoring, collaboration, and peer
support. Also, highlight the
keyboard for math symbols for
students using Braille
​Supportive APPS:
● Talking Calculator HD- Students
will be able to use the Talking
Calculator app to speak out the
calculations they need to assist
with their visual impairment.
● Voice Recorder- Students will be
able to use the Voice Recorder
app to record lessons and
assignments to assist with their
visual impairment.
● Options for Perception​- Provide
audio recordings and the use of
manipulatives. By doing this,
students with a visual impairment
can still learn the content in a way
that is non-visual, such as
auditorily and/or kinesthetically.
● Options for Physical Action​-
Provide alternatives for physically
interacting with materials,
responding to questions, and the
use of technology. Options for this
are alternative keyboards, voice
command technologies, braille,
etc. By doing this, students with a
visual impairment, will still be able
to participate and not feel left out
because of their disability.
Designing a high-quality lesson idea supporting Universal Design for Learning principles
process, effort, and improvement
of students in meeting
standards. This allows students
with auditory impairments to
interact with others, and also see
their own improvement by using
a checklist and having a goal.
● Options for Recruiting Interest​-
Provide students with choices in
the level of challenge, types of
tools used, design, what activity
they want to do, how they receive
the information, and let them make
their own personal academic and
behavioral goals. By allowing
students to have an active role in
their learning, they will be able to
have a major role in how they
learn the information, which will
help them be more self-motivated.