UDL vs Differentiated Instruction (DI): The Dinner Party Analogy

Introduction

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): An educational framework offering options to help students control their own learning.
Differentiated Instruction (DI): An educational framework that also designs options for students but is managed by the teacher.
Teachers often confuse DI with UDL.

Imagine hosting a dinner party with 30 guests having varied dietary needs (allergies, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.).
Preparing individual meals for each guest is akin to DI.
- Teachers create individualized lessons for each student based on their needs.
- Options are directed by the teacher, often leading to teacher burnout.
- There is a risk of choosing incorrect options for students.

Instead of individual meals, provide a buffet allowing guests to choose based on their preferences and dietary needs.
UDL is like the buffet:
- Offers a variety of options without individualizing for specific students.
- Encourages self-directed learning and responsibility in students.
- Activates different parts of the brain:
  - Engagement: Multiple means of engagement turn on the affective network.
  - Representation: Multiple means of representation ignite the recognition network.
  - Action & Expression: Multiple means of action and expression activate the strategic network.
Helps teachers maintain creativity and energy.
Not an overnight implementation but effective once established.

Teachers feeling exhausted by DI can benefit from UDL by offering options without losing creativity and energy.
UDL leads to curious, self-directed learners.
Encouragement to explore UDL further through guides and courses.

Explore further resources: