Universal Design For Instruction - Principles of UDI

Principles of UDI

The original seven Principles of Universal Design for products and environments established by the Center for Universal Design at NSCU follow; UDI applies these principles to learning environments.

• Principle 1: Equitable Use
• Principle 2: Flexibility in Use
• Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive
• Principle 4: Perceptible Information
• Principle 5: Tolerance for Error
• Principle 6: Low Physical Effort
• Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use

The DO-IT Center's Center for Universal Design in Education (CUDE) combines UDI strategies and UD principles with the more specific Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is "a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn." UDL guidelines encourage curriculum designers to provide the student with options with respect to the following:

• UDL 1: Perception
• UDL 2: Language, Expressions, Symbolism
• UDL 3: Comprehension
• UDL 4: Physical Action
• UDL 5: Expressive Skills and Fluency
• UDL 6: Executive Functions
• UDL 7: Recruiting Interest
• UDL 8: Sustaining Effort and Persistence
• UDL 9: Self-Regulation

The University of Connecticut researchers and practitioners propose nine principles that describe a successful implementation of Universal Design for Instruction. Four of them state that materials and activities should be:

• 1: Accessible and fair,
• 2: Flexible,
• 3: Straightforward and consistent, and
• 4: Explicit.

Three principles for universal design for instruction state that the learning environment should:

• 5: Be supportive,
• 6: Minimize unnecessary physical effort, and
• 7: Accommodate students and multiple teaching methods.

Universal design for instruction includes two more principles related to the delivery environment:

• 8: Tolerance for error and
• 9: Size and space for approach and use.