Principle of Action and Expression - Guideline 2 - Criterion 1

Universal Design for Learning

Principle of  Action and Expression - Guideline 2 - Criterion 1

When developing a course using the second principle of Universal Design for Learning, there are three specific guidelines to assist us.  The second, Expression and Communication, focuses on how learners effectively communicate and express their knowledge. 

Criterion 1 of this guideline advocates that we use multiple media for communication.

Barring courses that specialize in a specific goal, such as Chinese calligraphy or watercolor studio classes, it is important to provide alternative media for expression.  Every type of media has its specific benefits and barriers to expression.   These alternatives may accommodate a variety of special needs while increasing the learners’ opportunity to develop a broader range of expression in this media rich world. The variety of modes has the unintended consequence of challenging students to learn how to maximize their expression for specific media.   For example, there is vast differences involved in writing effectively for journals, web content, and for video.  Offering alternatives of expression also allows learners to explore the optimal medium for specific content and its effectiveness on its audience.  

Essentially, allow learners to express learning in flexible ways while inculcating composition skills.

Some things to consider include:

• Utilize multimedia to promote expression using a myriad of modes of communication, including: text, speech illustration, video, and other more.
• Use physical manipulatives – even online learning assignments can engage students in real world activities and have students report their findings or illustrate their results.
• Use interactive web tools (for example: discussion forums, annotation tools, storyboards, animation and presentations)
• Provide the opportunity to solve problems using a variety of strategies.

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