Offering ways of customizing information is a universal design for learning (UDL) guideline that supports multiple means of representation. The UDL guidelines were developed by an organization called CAST. This article will explore how teachers and other educators can offer ways to customize information for a variety of learners.
Offering Ways of Customizing Information in Universal Design for Learning
Offering ways of customizing information means presenting information in ways that allow learners to change how they perceive it. While hard-copy print information cannot easily be changed, digital information is easier for learners to customize. For example, instead of printed textbooks or handouts, a teacher could assign readings from:
- eBooks
- Websites
- Their school’s learning management system (LMS)
Likewise, instead of showing their whole class a video, a teacher could give each learner access to the video to watch it on their personal device. While not all learners own computers, phones, or tablets, some school boards provide learners with technology for use in school. This arrangement gives all learners equitable access to course content they can customize to meet their needs.
Furthermore, websites that conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) allow visitors to customize how text appears on their screens. As a result, if teachers assign readings from websites that conform to WCAG, learners should be able to customize text elements such as:
- Font
- Size
- Colour, including colour contrast between text and background
- Placement of pop-ups or other boxes
- Layouts
In addition, learners should be able to customize colour, size, and other aspects of some non-text elements, such as:
- Graphs
- Maps
- Diagrams
- Other images
Similarly, learners should be able to customize the speed and volume of multimedia information, such as:
Moreover, learners can choose to use captions or transcripts of audio or videos.
Offering ways of customizing information allows each learner to access information at their own pace and at a time that works best for them. Learners can also arrange information visually in ways that suit them best.