Date
17 November 2024

Match teaching methods to student preferences

Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Planning using UDL in primary settings’

Flexibility and choice is highly valued

Flexibility and choice is highly valued

Students share why having ownership over learning pathways supports their motivation and engagement in learning.

Use multiple approaches

Use multiple approaches

Consider learner variability from the outset.
  • social and collaborative learning
  • student-directed/teacher-directed learning
  • independent learning
  • project work
  • direct instruction.

Communicate in multiple ways

Communicate in multiple ways

Support talking with multiple representations: for example, manipulatives, visuals, video.

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Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Source:
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Know your learners

Know your learners

To plan learning experiences that will give all students opportunities to make connections to new concepts, teachers need to understand what each student brings to their learning.

Gather and analyse a wide range of information about learners, from:

  • achievement
  • observations 
  • conversations with them
  • conversations with their peers, families, and whānau.

Reflection questions

Reflection questions

Reflect on the following statements, then ask students to share their perspectives.

  • How do I create opportunities for students to connect learning to their culture, interests and things that matter to them?
  • How do I activate background knowledge and drawn attention to critical features in varied and flexible ways?
  • How do I ensure students have the supports, options, and challenges they need to demonstrate their understanding in ways that work for them?
  • How can I increase opportunities for students to use their first languages in learning?
  • In what ways could I provide students access to learning if they are absent from class?
  • How do I offer multiple opportunities for students to learn from and with others?

Source: Adapted from CAST UDL curriculum self-check (opens in a new tab/window)

Useful resources

Useful resources

Website

Ask your students how you can become a better teacher

A blog post by Chrissie Butler from CORE Education. Chrissie provides questions and prompts for teachers to consider when designing learning environments.

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Design considerations in primary settings”:

Return to the guide “Universal Design for Learning”

Guide to Index of the guide: Universal Design for Learning

Strategies for action:

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