# Universal Design for Learning in Action

## 100 Ways to Teach All Learners

by

#### Whitney H. Rapp, Ph.D.

St. John Fisher College Rochester, New York

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## Contents

### Section I Overview

Foundational Theories ... 2  
How Do All of These Foundational Theories Fit Together? ... 11  
What Does This Book Add to All of These Theories? ... 12  
Addressing Barriers and Misconceptions ... 13  
Format of the Book ... 15

### Section II Strategies for Engagement

Providing Multiple Means of Engagement ... 18  
Considerations ... 19  
Engagement Through Space: Bulletin Board Borders ... 21  
Engagement Through Space: Seating ... 22  
Engagement Through Space: Lighting ... 24  
Engagement Through Materials: Fidget Toys ... 25  
Engagement Through Materials: Professional Equipment ... 26  
Engagement Through Materials: Writing Surfaces ... 27  
Engagement Through Classroom Management: Jobs ... 29  
Engagement Through Classroom Management: Meetings ... 31  
Engagement Through Classroom Management: Smarty Pants ... 33  
Engagement Through Classroom Management: Organized Classroom ... 35  
Engagement Through Technology: Interactive Whiteboards ... 37  
Engagement Through Technology: Videoconferencing ... 39  
Engagement Through Technology: Blogs ... 40  
Engagement Through Content Instruction: Tactile Activities ... 42  
Engagement Through Content Instruction: Bag of Writing Ideas ... 44  
Engagement Through Content Instruction: Mnemonics ... 45  
Engagement Through Content Instruction: Computer Software Programs ... 46  
Engagement Through Social Interaction: Games ... 47  
Engagement Through Social Interaction: Grouping ... 48  
Engagement Through Social Interaction: Dice ... 49  
Engagement Through Social Interaction: Redefine Bullying ... 50  
Engagement Through Executive Functions: Using the Arts ... 52  
Engagement Through Executive Functions: Cue Signals ... 54  
Engagement Through Executive Functions: Minecraft Video Game ... 56  
Engagement Through Transition to Adulthood: Bingo ... 57  
Engagement Through Transition to Adulthood: Real-Life Situations ... 58  
Engagement Through Transition to Adulthood: Invite People to Meetings ... 60

## Section III Strategies for Input

Providing Multiple Means of Input ... 62  
Considerations ... 63  
Input Through Space: Food, Drinks, and Gum ... 66  
Input Through Space: Nooks ... 68  
Input Through Materials: Visually Accessible Text ... 69  
Input Through Materials: Auditory Books ... 70  
Input Through Materials: Tactile Books ... 71  
Input Through Materials: Self-Amplifiers ... 72  
Input Through Classroom Management: Schedules ... 73  
Input Through Classroom Management: Syn-naps ... 74  
Input Through Classroom Management: 10:2 Theory ... 75  
Input Through Technology: FM-Adapted Computer Stations ... 76  
Input Through Technology: Digital Text or E-books ... 77  
Input Through Technology: Note-Taking Hardware and Software ... 79  
Input Through Technology: Access to Auditory Input ... 81  
Input Through Technology: Access to Visual Input ... 83  
Input Through Content Instruction: Peer-Mediated Instruction ... 85  
Input Through Content Instruction: Study Snippets ... 86  
Input Through Content Instruction: Responsive Resource Posters ... 87  
Input Through Content Instruction: Humor ... 88  
Input Through Content Instruction: Visualizing ... 89  
Input Through Content Instruction: Continuum of Abstractness ... 90  
Input Through Content Instruction: Accessible Presentation Software ... 91  
Input Through Social Interaction: Social Stories ... 93  
Input Through Social Interaction: Social Skill Autopsy ... 94  
Input Through Social Interaction: Gaming Technology ... 95  
Input Through Executive Functions: Planner Options ... 97  
Input Through Executive Functions: Web-Based Materials and Information ... 99  
Input Through Executive Functions: Graphic Organizers ... 101  
Input Through Executive Functions: Timers ... 103  
Input Through Transition to Adulthood: Resource Ring ... 105  
Input Through Transition to Adulthood: A-to-C Chart ... 106  
Input Through Transition to Adulthood: Visual Goal Plan ... 108

## Section IV Strategies for Output

Providing Multiple Means of Output ... 110  
Considerations ... 111  
Output Through Space: Mobility Supports ... 114  
Output Through Space: Student-Created Bulletin Boards ... 116  
Output Through Materials: Coded Assignments ... 117  
Output Through Materials: Supports for Interactive Whiteboards ... 118  
Output Through Materials: Writing Supports ... 120  
Output Through Materials: Universal Tools ... 122  
Output Through Classroom Management: Integrative Movement ... 123  
Output Through Classroom Management: Transition Areas ... 125  
Output Through Classroom Management: Coded Classroom ... 127  
Output Through Technology: Photo Essay ... 128  
Output Through Technology: Universal Computer Equipment ... 129  
Output Through Technology: Communication Supports ... 130  
Output Through Content Instruction: Graph Paper ... 132  
Output Through Content Instruction: Socratic Seminars ... 134  
Output Through Content Instruction: Student Recordings and Videos ... 135  
Output Through Content Instruction: Prequestions ... 137  
Output Through Content Instruction: Reading Reflection Cards ... 138  
Output Through Content Instruction: Music ... 139  
Output Through Content Instruction: Drawing ... 140  
Output Through Social Interaction: Response Scales ... 141  
Output Through Social Interaction: Mix-Freeze-Pair ... 143  
Output Through Social Interaction: Rally Table ... 144  
Output Through Executive Functions: Rubrics ... 145  
Output Through Executive Functions: Templates ... 146  
Output Through Executive Functions: Visual Reminders ... 148  
Output Through Transition to Adulthood: Visual Presentation of Goals ... 149

## Section V Strategies for Assessment

Providing Multiple Means of Assessment ... 152  
Considerations ... 153  
Assessment Through Testing: Adapted Tests ... 157  
Assessment Through Testing: Retesting ... 159  
Assessment Through Testing: Computer Practice Tests ... 160  
Assessment Through Testing: Activities with Products ... 161  
Assessment Through Testing: Entry and Exit Responses ... 162  
Assessment Through Homework: CHOICE! ... 163  
Assessment Through Homework: Family Projects ... 165  
Assessment Through Homework: Peer Groups ... 167  
Assessment Through Performance Assessment: Family Message Journals ... 169  
Assessment Through Performance Assessment: Solving Real-World Problems ... 170  
Assessment Through Portfolio Assessment: Ability Profiles ... 172  
Assessment Through Portfolio Assessment: Responsive Report Cards ... 174  
Assessment Through Self-Evaluation: “I Can…” Sheets ... 175  
Assessment Through Self-Evaluation: Learning Logs ... 176  
Assessment Through Self-Evaluation: IRS Questions ... 178  
Assessment for Self-Evaluation: Three Cups ... 179

## Section VI A Living Resource

Reflections for Additional Strategies ... 182  
Theory Books ... 183  
Strategy Books and Materials ... 184

First-Hand Narratives ... 185  
Web Sites ... 185

References ... 195  
Index ... 199

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# About the Author

### Whitney H. Rapp, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Inclusive Education, St. John Fisher College, 3690

East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14618

Dr. Rapp is Associate Professor of Inclusive Education at St. John Fisher College, where she teaches courses on inclusive education pedagogy, assessment, classroom management, and diversity issues. Dr. Rapp holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology from the State University of New York at Potsdam and master’s and doctoral degrees in special education from Michigan State University. Prior to her experience in teacher education, Dr. Rapp taught many grade levels in a variety of settings, from fully inclusive classrooms to residential special education schools. All of these experiences reinforced her belief that all children can learn and that all children should learn together in inclusive settings. Dr. Rapp’s current research interests include universal design for learning throughout the school years and college. She is the coauthor of the textbook Teaching Everyone: An Introduction to Inclusive Education (coauthored with K.L. Arndt; Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2012), and she presents at local, state, national, and international conferences on differentiation of instruction, teacher education, and inclusion. She serves on the Board of Directors of TASH. Dr. Rapp’s spare time is spent with her husband and three children, riding bikes, hiking, playing board games, reading, watching movies, and enjoying Owasco Lake.