Improving inclusive education through universal design for learning (UDL)– open access book – brief overview

 Here is another open access book, pulished 2021 by Springer and edited by Alvyra Galkienė  and Ona Monkevičienė.  The book is the fifth volume in the Springer series on Inclusive learning and educational equity.

It is a scholarly piece of work on UDL, introducing and discussing its origins, the major theories/ theorist informing UDL principles, and providing examples/case studies from recent projects undertaken across Europe. As such, takes effort to get into but pays dividends in the coverage of UDL.

There are 12 chapters in the book, with most referring to formal educational contexts. Authors are mainly based Poland, Finland, Austria and Lithuania.

The first chapter, 'preconditions of transforming the educational process by applying inclusive education strategies: Theorectical background' sets the scene with the historical evolution of education provision to the disabled and the ways the initial principles of inclusive education were laid down. Fundamental aspects of UDL are presented, discussed and critique. This is a 'go-to' chapter for those seeking to better understand the origins and frameworks informing UDL.

The other 11 chapters, extend on the precepts presented in the first chapter. Many report on work being undertaken to develop and implement UDL approaches, mainly into the formal or school education sector. Many of the approaches are socio-culturally specific to the author's contexts and thus must be read with the idea of gleaning specific grounding principles, which are then useful in one's own context. A key aspect of several chapters, is the preparation and empowerment of learners to be 'expert learners' who are knowledgeable and resourceful. 

The entire book is downloadable along with individual chapters. The book makes for a good resource presenting the historical evolution of inclusive education, the development of UDL and UDLs application to specific educational contexts.