June UDL Connections

Each month this periodical will 1) highlight critical UDL practices, 2) make connections to the UDL guidelines and considerations, 3) connect you with great tools and resources, 4) share some ways schools are putting this practice into action and 5) offer additional approaches to utilize this highlighted practice.

Stay Tuned! The UDL Design Cycle Practice Profile is currently being updated to better align with UDL 3.0. We will share that as soon as it's updated!

This month's connection focus connects the idea of frequent opportunities for teacher and learner reflection in order to cultivate learner agency.

According to CAST (2025), "information is more accessible and likely to be understood by learners when it is presented in a way that primes, activates, or provides any prerequisite knowledge.

However, there are also barriers for learners who have the necessary background knowledge, but might not know it is relevant. Those barriers can be reduced when options are available that support learners in connecting relevant prior knowledge, or link to the prerequisite information elsewhere."

1. UDL Design Cycle Classroom Visit Tool

These templates are designed to connect users with the key elements from the design cycle. Each page focuses on one of the 5 critical components, is color-coded to match the cycle graphic, and provides important information for the teacher and coach. Teachers can use the templates to reflect with their coach on the lesson as the coach provides feedback on what was observed.

2. LUDIA, in a new and exciting way! This month highlights ways to use LUDIA for reflection analysis as well as item analysis.

3. Learn About, a new experimental platform from Google, is designed to help you and your learners explore topics in greater depth. This exciting tool allows students to build background knowledge in areas of their choice or in subjects assigned to them. Because "barriers and inequities can arise when unfamiliar background knowledge is critical to understanding new information" (CAST, 2025), Learn About may serve as a powerful tool for promoting equitable access to content in your classroom.

4. 33 prompts for teachers is another great resource to support teacher agency and data refelection. These 33 prompts range from teacher lesson design to assessing student progress.

LUDIA for quantitative analysis with Spring test schools.

More recently, teams used LUDIA to analyze item-level results from spring assessments. After uploading their item analysis, LUDIA instantly identified trends, potential barriers, and even offered UDL-aligned considerations. The results exceeded expectations.

Check out the barriers and UDL suggestions LUDIA provided this teacher!

Data Insights from LUDIA

If this is also exciting to you, your next steps are easy!

1) download your spring assessement item analysis

2) upload to LUDIA (remove student identifiers before uploading data)

3) Review LUDIA's analysis and suggestions

4) Be sure to share with us on social media!

But it didn't stop there.

LUDIA for qualitative analysis for professional and student surveys.

Earlier this year, teacher teams used a checklist to assess their baseline co-teaching practices. After a year of learning about co-teaching and UDL, they completed the same checklist to reflect on growth.

They also surveyed students at the beginning and end of the year to understand what was most helpful in their teaching and what might be making it hard for them to learn. The insights were exciting and meaningful.

Student Survey Analysis by LUDIA

Co-Teaching Survey Analysis by LUDIA

We all know time is a precious commodity. This can be a time-saver for your teams!

How might you use this in your setting? What questions would you ask?

Cherie Smith began working at State Support Team Region 6 in July 2015. She has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and the Inclusive Classroom. Most of her experience has been in special education as a supervisor and an Intervention Specialist at the secondary level. She has taught students wtih disabiliteis in both Florida and Ohio.

Cherie served as a co-chair of the Universal Design for Learning Implementation and Research Network's Implementation Special Interest Group and is a member of the Ohio UDL Collaborative.

As an SST6 Consultant, she supports districts in the Ohio Implementation Process as a Regional Data Lead. She leads Universal Design for Learning and supports districts with IDEA Internal Monitoring, Postsecondary Transition, PBIS, and College and Career Readiness.

Email: csmith@sst6.org
Website: https://www.sst6.org/UniversalDesignforLearning.aspx
Location: 1045 Dearbaugh Avenue, Wapakoneta, OH, USA
Phone: 419-739-0170
Facebook: facebook.com/SST6ohio
Twitter: @Smith43326

Heidi Orvosh, Ph.D., is an instruction and technology integration specialist/consultant/coach with Northern Buckeye Education Council. She works with schools around the region to build the capacity of local educational agencies to engage in systemic and sustainable improvements for students. Her primary focus is in the area of technology integration and Universal Design for Learning. She has over 20 years of professional expertise in the area of education. Her previous experience includes consultant with State Support Team Region 7, administrator, and teacher at the secondary and post-secondary level. Her doctorate is in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University.

Email: orvosh@nwoca.org

Website: https://www.nwoca.org
Phone: Cell (575) 202-5856
Facebook: facebook.com/SST6ohio
Twitter: @HeidiOrvosh

Jenny (she/her) is an educational consultant and Regional Data Lead for SST 16. In addition to her membership in the Ohio UDL Collaborative, her work involves supporting leadership teams with the Ohio Improvement Process, assisting with attendance work, and co-leading regional Each Child on Track initiatives. Prior to joining SST, Jenny spent thirteen years as a secondary science teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science Education and a Master of Education in Cultural Studies in Education.

Email: jenny.lang@sst16.org
Website: https://www.sst16.org/
Location: 21 Birge Drive, Chauncey, OH 45719, USA

Phone: 740-797-0150

Favorite Dinosaur: Parasaurolophus

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