The UDL Principles

The UDL framework is made up of three core principles. Under each of the three principles, there are three guidelines. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities. You will find that there is a lot of overlap between several of the UDL principles. Often things you add under one principle/guideline may unexpectedly affect another.

The UDL guidelines encourage us to:

Provide multiple means of Engagement - the ‘Why of Learning’.

This principle focuses on ways we can help learners/those we are communicating with to remain engaged and motivated, and how they are challenged, excited and interested.

Provide multiple means of Representation - the ‘What of Learning’.

This principle focuses on how individuals gather information and categorise what they see, hear and read.

Provide multiple means of Action and Expression - the ‘How of Learning’.

This principle focuses on the planning and performing of tasks, and how individuals organise and express their ideas.

UDL Graphic Organiser

This short video from AHEAD provides a succinct overview of the UDL Framework:

What is UDL?