Making Learning Work for Everyone: Exploring Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Inspired by a recent masterclass hosted by the Digital Learning Institute

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital education, one principle remains constant: learning should be accessible to all. That was the key message in a recent Digital Learning Institute CPD masterclass focused on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). A framework that’s gaining momentum for its role in creating inclusive learning experiences.

So what is UDL, and how can you apply it in your work as a digital learning professional?

UDL is a research-based framework developed by CAST that guides the design of learning experiences to meet the needs of all learners. At its core, UDL encourages flexibility in how learners access material, engage with content, and show what they know.

The framework is built around three key principles:

1. Multiple Means of Engagement – Tapping into learners' interests and offering choices to sustain motivation.

2. Multiple Means of Representation – Presenting content in different ways (e.g., text, audio, video, visuals) to make it understandable for all.

3. Multiple Means of Action and Expression – Allowing learners to demonstrate what they’ve learned in different ways.

In a global learning environment with increasingly diverse cohorts, UDL isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. Whether you're building corporate training modules or designing courses for higher education, embracing UDL helps break down barriers and improve learner outcomes.

If you're already familiar with accessibility standards like WCAG, UDL complements these by going a step further: it proactively plans for learner variability from the start.

The masterclass offered several strategies that can be immediately applied:

• Use alternative formats: Provide transcripts for videos, alt-text for images, and visual aids for text-heavy content.

• Offer choice: Let learners choose between video, audio, or reading formats. Allow them to submit reflections as voice notes or written posts.

• Build flexibility into assessments: Instead of just quizzes, try projects, portfolios, or short reflections to capture diverse learning evidence.

A great place to begin is reviewing your current content using a UDL Checklist and identifying areas where more flexibility or clarity could help.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire course to start applying UDL. Begin by choosing one element, like an assessment, a video, or a piece of content and ask:

• Can I offer this in more than one format?

• Are there flexible ways for learners to engage or respond?

• What barriers might some learners face here?

From there, build momentum by creating a simple UDL checklist or using the CAST UDL Guidelines as a reference point during your design process.

At the Digital Learning Institute, UDL is one of the foundational approaches in our instructional design practice. Whether you're part of our CDLP Program or exploring our Specialist Certificates, you’ll find the principles of inclusive design embedded throughout.

Universal Design for Learning is more than a framework—it's a mindset. One that asks us, as learning professionals, to anticipate diversity and embed equity at every step of the design process. As we move toward more adaptive and personalized learning ecosystems, UDL gives us a roadmap to do it right..