2.1 Introduction to Universally Designed Assessments
Applied to assessment, the goal of UDL is for all students to demonstrate relevant skills, knowledge and abilities without barriers and without compromising the validity of the evaluation results (Ketterlin-Geller & Johnstone, 2006). In this chapter, you will learn how to remove assessment barriers while designing assessments that are flexible and rigorous. Not only will students benefit from universally designed assessments, but the results will become more reliable feedback for your ongoing course development.
Benefits of Universally Designed Assessments:
- Assessments become more accurate measures of intended learning outcomes.
- Students are provided with equivalent rather than identical opportunities to demonstrate their learning.
- Validity and reliability of the measurement remain intact.
- Need for formal exam accommodations by students with disabilities is diminished.
The following short video from CAST offers an introduction to UDL and Assessment.
This chapter leads you through the following steps for applying UDL to assessments:
- Clearly define learning outcomes
- Create an assessment plan
- Develop strategies for engaging variable learners in assessments
- Create accessible assessments
- Design rubrics with transparent criteria
Throughout this chapter, you will also find these “tip boxes” that relate to UDL and assessment:
🧩 Universally Designed Assessment Tip #1: Enhance Student Autonomy
The UDL 3.0 Guidelines emphasize developing learner autonomy. Autonomy in assessment is more than a pedagogical strategy—it’s a commitment to empowering students to take ownership of their learning. By respecting individual identities and providing flexible assessment pathways, you help students build confidence, develop self-awareness, and prepare for lifelong success in an ever-changing world.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Separate means of achieving from learning outcomes.
- Apply strategies for engaging diverse students in assessments.
- Apply strategies for incorporating multiple means of representation in assessments.
- Apply strategies for incorporating multiple means of action & expression in assessments.
