UDL: Engagement
Friday, 9/15/2025
Welcome to our first CTL Teaching Minute of the Fall Semester!
This semester at the CTL, our theme is Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Each Teaching Minute will focus on one UDL principle and share ideas for small adjustments you might try in your own teaching.
We begin the series with the first of the three UDL principles: Engagement [cast.org].
Why Engagement Matters
What draws students in, keeps them motivated, or helps them through challenges looks different for everyone – and it can even shift for the same student over time. Some students might be energized by a real-world scenario that interests them; some students are most engaged doing solitary projects while other prefer community/group work; some students may need steady encouragement and support for managing motivation or emotions.
UDL reminds us that there’s no single path to engagement. When we build in a few alternatives, we create more chances for students to find a way to connect in ways that feel meaningful to them.
Practical Ideas to Try
Here are a few strategies – try just one to start:
- Feedback for growth: Create feedback loops focused on effort and growth, not only outcomes.
- Show progress visually: Break down bigger projects into small steps or mini milestones so students can track and manage their progress.
- Choice of roles: In group work, let students choose different roles (e.g., researcher, presenter, notetaker) or take on personas related to the content.
- Play with scenarios: Use examples from different fields or communities to invite multiple entry points.
- Invite play: Try story-telling, character profiles, or “challenge/quest” language to spark exploration.
- Set high expectations while communicating that mistakes are okay—they're a natural part of learning. One way is to offer options to redo quizzes or resubmit assignments.
Dig Deeper
Looking for more? These resources expand on engagement through UDL:
- CAST (2024). Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 3.0. Retrieved from https://udlguidelines.cast.org: A foundational overview of inspiring interest, sustaining effort, and supporting self-regulation.
- Engagement Redefined: Leveraging UDL 3.0 for Inclusive & Equitable Teaching A free, virtual session exploring updated approaches to UDL and inclusion from Goodwin University.
- UDL Engagement QuickNote - Oakland University CTL: A concise guide with faculty-facing strategies
- Professors at Play: A playful community of practice with activities and ideas to re-energize teaching.
If you want to talk through how UDL could work in your own course, the CTL team is here to brainstorm ideas, share strategies, or connect with upcoming workshops. Schedule a consultation with us to keep the conversation going!
Happy teaching!
Center for Teaching & Learning
www.uvm.edu/ctl
ctl@uvm.edu