Universal Design for Learning

We know that all students learn differently. The arts are the common denominator that allows every student in the classroom to explore topics, demonstrate understanding and created deeper meaning. Over the years the Whole Schools Initiative has provided professional development to educators on Multiple Intelligences, Understanding by Design and now Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to inform and connect learning in the classroom for all types of learners.

Universal Design for Learning according to CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology), www.cast.org/udl/, is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn.

The Whole Schools Initiative first introduced UDL at the 2012 Whole Schools Initiative Spring Cluster Retreat with a keynote presentation by Don Glass who provided an overview to over 180 teachers and teaching artists. Don returned to the WSI Summer Institute in July with UDL trained teaching artist, Richard Don Glass to give a more in-depth training to Mississippi teaching artists and provide lessons in arts integrated/UDL experiences to over 50 educators. At the end of these trainings, evaluations revealed the desire to learn more, specifically about developing arts integrated/UDL residencies for long-term impact.

In 2012/13, the Whole Schools Initiative (WSI) received a contract by the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts to provide professional development in arts integration and UDL to teaching artists and educators (which include inclusion and self-contained special education teachers). Highlights of the contract included: professional development opportunities, school residencies, and resources such as model lesson plans. A module was created by Don Glass in order for educators to learn more about UDL at their own pace. This module provides an introductory overview of the critical features, foundations, and use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). It provides background information from the learning sciences that shows how UDL can address learning variability, as well as support expert learning strategies across the neural networks associated with learning. Anyone can access this resource.

To interact with the module:
1. Register for CAST’s free UDL Studio learning design environment.
2. Go to the WSI UDL module.

The WSI made UDL a focal point at both the 2012 Fall Cluster Retreat and 2013 Spring Cluster Retreat. Click here for a list of model lessons that contain Common Core State Standards, Mississippi Visual and Performing Arts Frameworks, Arts Integration strategies and principals of UDL.

• Spreadsheet of All Lesson Plans [46.00KB]
• A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words [197.50KB]

  Students will explore the role of illustrators and how their work contributes to understanding a book.

• About Abraham Lincoln [202.50KB]

  Students will analyze how artists present Abraham Lincoln's personality and presidential accomplishments through portraits and will create their own presidential portrait.

• "Abraham Lincoln" by Steven Vincent Benet and Rosemary Benet [41.29KB]
• Artful Angles [200.50KB]

  Students will explore and create non-representational art made from geometric shapes and angles.

• Pantomime Shadows [204.00KB]

  The student will expand knowledge of measurement by comparing and contrasting shadow murals made in the style of Ellis Gallagher.

• Huichol Yarn Painting [200.00KB]

  Students will explore how cultures throughout history have developed art forms that served to record their history, beliefs, and important events in their lives.

• Kandinsky Art [198.50KB]

  Students will understand the importance of Wassily Kandinsky, and how his art relates to mathematical and visual arts concepts.

• Koi Nobori: Carp Kites [198.50KB]

  Students will create an original kite inspired by the Koi Nobori kites used to celebrate Children’s Day in Japan.

• Multiplication Movement [197.50KB]

  Students will work in groups to create an original choreographed sequence to explain a multiplication fact of threes.

• Name Squares [201.00KB]

  Students will recognize and illustrate alphabet letters in their names

• Parts of a Plant [200.00KB]

  Students will learn the four parts of a plant and will create labeled illustrations in a style similar to Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”.

• Shapeolution [196.50KB]

  Students will create shapes with and by using their own bodies.

• Square Dancing through Perimeter and Area [201.00KB]

  Students will successfully measure the perimeter and area that their bodies cover while participating in a square dance.

• The ABC's of Walter Anderson [204.00KB]

  Students will create Walter Anderson inspired block prints about an animal from Mississippi that they have researched.

• The Art of Making Letters [198.00KB]

  Students will create a work of art that spells out their name in the style of Jasper Johns.

• The Starry Night Time and Day Time [199.50KB]

  Students will represent the rotations of the Earth, Sun, and Moon though movement.

• Time Capsule Cave [196.50KB]

  Students will create their own cave drawings to communicate their ideas through symbols.

• Students will create and choreograph a dance focusing on the stages of a flower and how it grows under different conditions [198.50KB]

  Students will create an original piece of artwork using transformations and tessellations.

• Violets, Daffodils, Roses and Thorn [200.50KB]

  Students will create and choreograph a dance focusing on the stages of a flower and how it grows under different conditions

• What does William (T)tell? [202.00KB]

  The students will study sequential patterns and order in music, and relate them to sequential patterns and order in long division.

• What’s Your Expression [201.50KB]

  Students will create a set of data by illustration different facial expressions inspired by Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” that will then be graphed.

• William Tell Overture Sheet Music [223.62KB]

Incorporating UDL principals is now part of the WSI lesson plan and a requirement when schools submit model lesson plans. UDL will continue to be explored by all WSI schools and a one of the main topics of conversations at professional development opportunities.