UDL in Action: Simple Tech Tools to Reach Every Learner
If you’re new to Universal Design for Learning, start with my previous post, UDL 101, which breaks down the framework’s three core principles:
Engagement – the why of learning (motivation and interest)
Representation – the what of learning (how information is presented)
Action & Expression – the how of learning (how students demonstrate understanding)
Once you understand the foundation, the next step is finding practical tools that make it easy to apply UDL in real classrooms. Below are curated technologies and examples for multiple subject areas.
1. Reading & Writing
Goal: Provide multiple means of representation and expression.
Read&Write for Google Chrome – Offers text-to-speech, picture dictionaries, and word prediction to support struggling readers and writers.
Book Creator – Lets students publish multimedia books combining text, voice, and video — ideal for diverse expression.
CommonLit – Free digital reading platform with adaptable reading levels and built-in annotation tools.
SpeechTexter – Enables students with fine-motor or writing difficulties to dictate responses directly.
Classroom Idea: Have students use Book Creator to summarize a novel with audio reflections or illustrated vocabulary pages.
2. Science
Goal: Engage students with authentic, multimodal data and flexible lab tools.
PhET Interactive Simulations – Visual, interactive science simulations supporting inquiry-based learning.
Vernier Graphical Analysis – Collect and analyze live sensor data, supporting data literacy and engagement.
LabArchives Electronic Lab Notebook – A digital notebook where students record, share, and reflect on experiments — accessible and organized.
Blooket or Quizizz – Great for reinforcing concepts with gamified review.
Classroom Idea: Students model half-life using a digital simulation, record results in LabArchives, then communicate findings in a recorded video reflection.
3. Math
Goal: Provide visual and interactive ways to represent abstract concepts.
Desmos Classroom – Dynamic graphing activities that adapt in real time to student input.
GeoGebra – Interactive geometry, algebra, and calculus visualizations for conceptual understanding.
Edpuzzle – Add interactive questions to math tutorial videos for formative assessment.
Classroom Idea: Use Desmos to explore linear relationships, allowing students to manipulate variables visually and explain reasoning with screenshots and voice notes.
4. History & Social Studies
Goal: Present information through varied media and invite creative expression.
Google Earth Projects – Students can “tour” historical sites and annotate locations with notes or images.
ThingLink – Create interactive images or maps that embed audio, video, and text.
Padlet – Collaborative discussion walls for sourcing multiple perspectives or primary documents.
Classroom Idea: Assign a digital “time-capsule project” where students use ThingLink to create an interactive artifact showcasing a historical era.
5. Foreign Language
Goal: Increase engagement and provide multimodal opportunities to communicate.
Flip – Students record and reply with short videos to practice oral fluency.
Quizlet – Vocabulary study via text, images, and audio for multiple learning styles.
LyricsTraining – Students complete listening activities using songs in the target language.
Canva for Education – Visual storytelling for cultural projects or digital portfolios.
Classroom Idea: Students create a “virtual travel guide” in Canva narrated in the target language, incorporating text, audio, and imagery.
Conclusion
UDL is not about adding more work, it’s about designing smarter. With these tools, teachers can build flexible pathways for engagement, representation, and expression without starting from scratch. Whether your students learn best through visuals, hands-on projects or creative storytelling, technology can help make learning accessible, personalized and meaningful for everyone.
