Examples 3.2 | National Center On Universal Design for Learning

Implementation

Be the change

UDL Guidelines - Version 2.0: Examples and Resources

Checkpoint 3.2: Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships

I. Provide Multiple Means of Representation

Comprehension

Key Considerations

How does this help learners meet the goal?
How does this account for the variability of all learners?
Are learners seeing the important patterns in the information?

udlcenter [at] udlcenter [dot] org (Can you think of other examples/resources that illustrate this checkpoint? Tell us!)

Search these examples and resources on Diigo!

Example/Resource	Why UDL?
	Pace Car Pacecar is an online reading tool, designed to increase reading rate and decrease distractions. It masks the distracting elements on the page by creating a reading window that follows the reader's mouse. Age Group: All ages Content Area: All Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Pacecar is a great example of highlighting critical features. By decreasing distractors, Pacecar helps students to focus on the most important information on the page. See also: 7.3: Minimize threats and distractions
	Interactives: Elements of a Story This interactive breaks down the important elements of a story. Students go through the series of steps for constructing a story including: Setting, Characters, Sequence, Exposition, Conflict, Climax, and Resolution. Age Group: K-12 Content Area: Language Arts Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Elements of a Story is an effective example of "clarifying structure" becasue it is designed to help students to identify the structural components of storytelling. See also: 2.2: Clarify syntax and structure
	Interactives: Geometry 3D Shapes This interactive demonstrates the main components of geometric shapes and rules through text, images, models, and simulations. Age Group: K-12 Content Area: Math Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? The models and simulations (which complement the textual information) serve to highlight identifying features of geometric shapes. See also: 2.5: Illustrate through multiple media
	Illuminations Illuminations was designed to support the NCTM standards for mathematics. This website offers interactive tools to facilitate exploration of math concepts. Age Group: K-12 Content Area: Math Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Virtual manipulatives are an excellent example of highlighting critical features. This site allows students to explore the critical features of different mathematical concepts through the creation of models, patterns, and geometric shapes. See also: 2.5: Illustrate through multiple media
	Readability Readability is a simple tool that makes reading on the web more enjoyable by removing the clutter around what you're reading. Age Group: All ages Content Area: All Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Readability allows users to highlight critical features by reducing visual distractions that surround written text on the web. See also: 1.1: Offer ways of customizing the display of information 7.3: Minimize threats and distractions
	Word AutoSummarize Tool The AutoSummarize feature in MS Word allows you to summarize a document and add visual structure. Age Group: All ages Content Area: All Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Summarizing and adding visual structure is a great way to highlight critical features, big ideas, and relationships. See also: 2.2: Clarify syntax and structure
$A 52-degree angle$	Math Open Reference Math Open Conference represents geometry concepts visually as a way to complement text definitions and descriptions. Age Group: K-12 Content Area: Math Cost: Yes Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Math Open Reference is organized into pages that highlight the critical features of geometry concepts. Topics are separated to clarify distinct features. Critical terms are linked directly to a glossary so as not to hinder the viewer based on lack of vocabulary knowledge. See also: 2.5: Illustrate through multiple media

Example/Resource

Why UDL?

An online newspaper article in which a paragraph is highlighted

Pace Car

Pacecar is an online reading tool, designed to increase reading rate and decrease distractions. It masks the distracting elements on the page by creating a reading window that follows the reader's mouse.

Age Group: All ages
Content Area: All
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Pacecar is a great example of highlighting critical features. By decreasing distractors, Pacecar helps students to focus on the most important information on the page.

Girl with an image of Cinerella in the background

Interactives: Elements of a Story

This interactive breaks down the important elements of a story. Students go through the series of steps for constructing a story including: Setting, Characters, Sequence, Exposition, Conflict, Climax, and Resolution.

Age Group: K-12
Content Area: Language Arts
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Elements of a Story is an effective example of "clarifying structure" becasue it is designed to help students to identify the structural components of storytelling.

Interactives: Geometry 3D Shapes

This interactive demonstrates the main components of geometric shapes and rules through text, images, models, and simulations.

Age Group: K-12
Content Area: Math
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? The models and simulations (which complement the textual information) serve to highlight identifying features of geometric shapes.

Illuminations

Illuminations was designed to support the NCTM standards for mathematics. This website offers interactive tools to facilitate exploration of math concepts.

Age Group: K-12
Content Area: Math
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Virtual manipulatives are an excellent example of highlighting critical features. This site allows students to explore the critical features of different mathematical concepts through the creation of models, patterns, and geometric shapes.

Readability

Readability is a simple tool that makes reading on the web more enjoyable by removing the clutter around what you're reading.

Age Group: All ages
Content Area: All
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Readability allows users to highlight critical features by reducing visual distractions that surround written text on the web.

7.3: Minimize threats and distractions

Word AutoSummarize Tool

The AutoSummarize feature in MS Word allows you to summarize a document and add visual structure.

Age Group: All ages
Content Area: All
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Summarizing and adding visual structure is a great way to highlight critical features, big ideas, and relationships.

$A 52-degree angle$

Math Open Reference

Math Open Conference represents geometry concepts visually as a way to complement text definitions and descriptions.

Age Group: K-12
Content Area: Math
Cost: Yes
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Math Open Reference is organized into pages that highlight the critical features of geometry concepts. Topics are separated to clarify distinct features. Critical terms are linked directly to a glossary so as not to hinder the viewer based on lack of vocabulary knowledge.

Seeking District Partners for UDL Implementation Project

Join in CAST's Universal Design for Learning Professional Development System project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Please submit by February 15 at 5 p.m. EST. Learn more about how to apply.

Last Updated: 01/03/2012

Sitemap | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy