UDL Tool Finder
- Locate the curriculum unit method or material being used.
- Locate the particular challenges students are experiencing with these instructional methods and materials.
- Locate some examples of UDL solutions to address these challenges. Bold text links to additional resources on these tools/resources (e.g. strategies, software, web-sites) to enable students to access the curriculum topic.
Instructional Methods and Materials |
Student Challenges | Examples of UDL Tools/Solutions |
|---|---|---|
Printed book |
Student cannot see small text. |
Locate digital text and import into MS Word or text reader software to enlarge. |
| Student cannot decode at grade level. | Students use Kurzweil to read and listen to digital copies of the text. |
|
| Student has difficulty comprehending vocabulary | Students use the dictionary feature in Kurzweil or a web-based dictionary to look up unknown words. |
|
| Student has difficulty with critical thinking | Teacher embeds questions in the Kurzweil text using “notes” to foster critical thinking. | |
Lecture/ whole class presentation |
Student is distractible and misses information. |
Teacher provides guided notes at multiple levels. |
| Student has difficult processing verbal information. | Teacher uses PowerPoint to introduce and review new concepts and vocabulary. | |
| Student has difficulty comprehending material content. | Teacher locates appropriate web-based background material or informational text at reading level that can be saved and imported into a text-reader. | |
Checking for understanding |
Student has difficulty with new concepts and vocabulary. |
Use Inspiration to pair vocabulary with images to demonstrate understanding. |
Research |
Student has difficulty with organization. |
Provide an Inspiration outline template in digitized form to complete electronically. |
| Student may not be able to extract important content. | Provide text in Kurzweil using sticky or bubble notes feature to cue main ideas/important facts. | |
Written report |
Student cannot handwrite legibly. |
Provide access to word processors and/or build keyboarding skills. |
| Student cannot outline and organize ideas. | Use low-tech sticky notes pre-writing process for student to dictate ideas and organize them into paragraphs. Use graphic organizer features in Microsoft Word or Inspiration to add organizational supports. |
|
| Student has difficulty with written language. | Explore use of Clicker5 with text to speech support and organized writing grids to construct sentences out of word banks. |
|
| Student struggles with spelling. | EXplore use of word prediction software and text-to-speech (e.g. Co:Writer, WordQ) to predict correct spellings and self-edit writing | |
Drawing |
Student cannot draw representationally. |
Use clip-art/graphics from internet in place of hand drawings. |
Oral report |
Student has speech difficulties. |
Use Windows Movie Maker with images, text and audio to present information. |
| Student has difficulty presenting orally in front of peers. | Use of PowerPoint with pre-recorded speech and images to demonstrate knowledge. | |
Tests/quizzes |
Student cannot read questions. |
Convert quiz to fill-in-the-blank using Kurzweil or Write:OutLoud. |
| Student cannot retrieve key content vocabulary with ease. | Use Inspiration to pair vocabulary with images to demonstrate understanding. |
|
| Student cannot handwrite to to label maps/graphics | Use PowerPoint or Inspiration to important and label images. | |
Organizational skills/work habits |
Student has difficulty completing homework. | Explore strategies to help organize/plan assignments. |
