The media and materials are the backbone of a curriculum and embody its purpose. The facts, concepts, information, principles, and relationships that are to be learned must be represented in a media that communicates effectively to students and stored and distributed in a media that is accessible to all learners.
Media is the means of symbolic or physical representation through which knowledge is communicated. The most common media in instructional settings include text, image, speech, video, sculpture, theater, etc. The Universal Design for Learning context differentiates between traditional or "fixed" media and digital media because digital media are flexible and can be adjusted.
Materials are the physical objects or devices that are used to store and distribute knowledge as it is conveyed in various media. Publications, such as textbooks, trade books, videos, CD ROMs, workbooks, floppy disks, and audiotapes, are common examples of materials.
Mrs. Jones uses traditional media and materials, as well as media and materials designed in a Universal Design for Learning manner.
Traditional Approach
- Social Studies Textbook
- Encyclopedia
- Map Materials
- Tag board
- Colored pencils
- Rulers
- Glue
- Clay
- Trays
- CD software on US geography
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UDL Approach
- Printed text may constitute a barrier for students with physical or reading disabilities. If texts are digitally available, teachers and students have options for: text-to speech, Braille, and a variety of display formats.
- Provide various means and materials that students can use to create a map. Examples include: (a) draw a map, (b) create a map with clay, etc., (c) create a map electronically with computer tools (GIS), (d) have students verbalize for others the details of what to place on a map and where.
- Some learners may have organizational deficits making it challenging to understand and make use of library structure and thus the library resource. Provide scaffolds and instruction to find resource materials in multiple formats, text, digital, audio etc.
- Pre-select possible materials for students to review/research
- Direct students to area of media center with appropriate resource materials
- Consider textbook barriers noted in "materials/ classroom"
- Some learners may have difficulty using computers with CD hindering access to the resource material.
- Provide supports and instruction to use CD resource
- Evaluate access issues for vision, decoding, etc., for the various students in the class.
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