UDL to Update Assignment

Recently I was asked to analyze a student assignment using the principles of UDL (Universal Design for Learning).  The three principles of UDL are that student assignments and lessons will provide:
Multiple Means of Representation
Multiple Means of Action and Expression
Multiple Means of Engagement.
After learning the key principles of UDL and comparing an assignment to the UDL checklist, I was able to make some key improvements to the assignment that lend themselves to all learners.

Features of the Lesson
The lesson is available auditory using the text-to-speech feature on the iPad.
There is a large quantity of background information taught through different forms.
There are options for students who are not capable of using the technology
There are options for students who are not advanced enough to use the technology.
This assignment provides scaffolding as students practice before they actually complete the assignment.
The students have ample choices in design of their roller coaster.

Barriers of the Lesson
One of the major barriers was that the lesson did not provide enough step-by-step instructions or checklists.
Key terms and words need to be underlined.
There are not choices in their final product for the lesson.
There are not visuals involved in the directions.

I really enjoyed viewing this lesson through the UDL checklist but also found some of the UDL checklist items were not applicable to an individual assignment and were more geared to overall classroom management.  The UDL checklist did make me see how this assignment could be improved in providing easier steps and instructions, correlation to background concepts and allowing choices in students final products.

UDL Checklist for Coaster Physics

Coaster Physics Assignment