Match teaching methods to student preferences
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Planning using UDL in primary settings’
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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
- 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.
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
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.
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Design considerations in primary settings”:
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Current page Match teaching methods to student preferences
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Design assessments to enable students to demonstrate their understanding
Return to the guide “Universal Design for Learning”
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Universal Design for Learning
Understand:
- Why UDL is valuable
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Find out about UDLShow suggestions for Find out about UDL
Strategies for action:
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Provide multiple means of EngagementShow suggestions for Provide multiple means of Engagement
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Provide multiple means of RepresentationShow suggestions for Provide multiple means of Representation
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Provide multiple means of Action and ExpressionShow suggestions for Provide multiple means of Action and Expression
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How to plan using UDLShow suggestions for How to plan using UDL
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Design considerations in primary settingsShow suggestions for Design considerations in primary settings
- Prepare environments for flexibility
- Refine and support goal setting
- Match teaching methods to student preferences
- Ensure materials are flexible and accessible
- Design assessments to enable students to demonstrate their understanding
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Design considerations in secondary settingsShow suggestions for Design considerations in secondary settings
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Design considerations in NCEA assessmentsShow suggestions for Design considerations in NCEA assessments