Principle of Representation - Guideline 1 - Criterion 2

Universal Design for Learning

Principle of Representation - Guideline 1 - Criterion 2

When developing a course using the first principle of Universal Design for Learning, there are three specific guidelines to assist us.  The first, Perception in many ways overlaps with creating accessible content.

Criterion 2 of this guideline advocates that we provide alternatives to auditory information.

Sound is a very effective teaching tool, and the addition to sound to video, or text, can accelerate learning. However, information solely conveyed with audio is not equally accessible to all learners.  This is more so with learners with hearing disabilities. Ensure that all learners have access to information by:

• Providing written transcripts of closed captions to video or audio clips
• Provide visual diagrams, charts, and notations to sound (such as music)
• Offer visual analogues, such as symbols or images.
• When no voice is to be transcribed, offer visual/emotional description of audio, such as musical clips. 

By following these suggestions, your course will assist students communicating and expressing their knowledge, as well as being in line the Principle of Representation in the Theory of Universal Design for Learning.