Using CAST's UDL Lesson Builder

This week I investigated more fully the CAST.org website, paying particular attention to the UDL Lesson Builder and Book Builder areas. To tell you the truth, I rather enjoyed the Book Builder part of the assignments better than writing a lesson employing the concepts of Universal Design for Learning. I find myself getting frustrated when writing lessons in a different manner than I am used to using.

And in truth the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) has developed a fantastic program over the past 25 years. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is in fact useful for all levels of student achievement, not just that of Special Education students. Through the use of their innovative designs and programs, I can (and have) differentiated instruction without having to write three or four (or five or six) different lesson plans to accommodate all the students and the variety of needs reflected in my classroom.

My frustration lies in attempting to move how I "think" about a lesson to a different way. The information I inherently build into my lessons is the same over both my usual and CAST's UDL Lesson Builders. But I found the lessons needed to be built upon differently, and some of the activities I had planned to incorporate wouldn't work anymore.

But all in all, CAST's UDL Lesson Builder is beginning to grow on me. I may just have to let go of my"old way" and take a step into a new way.