UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING
Community of Practice in Newfoundland & Labrador
Watch: Getting Started with UDL
This video offers practical tips for taking your first steps with UDL, reminding us that small changes can lead to big impacts.
Before designing or assessing your teaching practice, it’s helpful to begin with a solid understanding of UDL. In this step, you’ll explore the foundations of UDL: what it is, where it came from, and how it can be used to support more inclusive learning environments across various educational contexts, including classrooms, field education, and community-based settings throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
We recommend starting with the updated CAST UDL Guidelines (Version 3.0), which offer a practical framework to guide inclusive teaching. Reviewing these principles will help you recognize barriers to learning and consider how to plan for diversity from the outset. These guidelines are organized around three core principles:
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Engagement (the why of learning)
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Representation (the what of learning)
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Action & Expression (the how of learning)
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To complement the guidelines, we recommend working through the UDL eLearning Modules, a free, interactive training designed specifically for educators and facilitators. Developed by George Brown College in collaboration with Northern College, Centennial College, Fleming College, and OCAD University, these modules provide an up-to-date and accessible overview of the UDL principles. They include videos, resources, and practical information that make the framework easier to understand and apply. After working through the modules, you’ll have a stronger grasp of the three core principles and how to integrate them into your own teaching and practice.
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Start here to lay the foundation for your journey into UDL. Don’t worry about mastering it all at once. This step is about building a strong understanding to support your next moves in planning and assessing your teaching practice in the unique learning environments found across Newfoundland and Labrador.