Reconnect 2021: Inclusion with Universal Design for Learning
In an inclusive school, there is a universal design that must be carefully prepared. This design must also be believed by all parties involved in the teaching and learning process. Not only teachers but also other adults. This design is known as Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
UDL is a framework that allows adults to provide a variety of choices to children. “Children can be involved in choosing how to absorb information and express their learning outcomes,” said Ana Rukma Dewi from ECCD-RC (Early Childhood Care and Development Resource Center), an early childhood information and service center, who spoke on Saturday, June 5, 2021 online. According to Ana, this UDL perspective must allow three aspects of learning, namely Interest & Attention, Information Absorption, and Expression.
In the aspect of ‘interest and attention’, the gods are believed to be able to stimulate motivation and maintain student enthusiasm in learning. In addition, in this UDL perspective, adults must be able to recognize the interests and strengths (potential) of children.
In the aspect of information absorption, adults are required to provide information and material in various ways so that students are able to understand it easily. Adults are also required to provide a variety of learning media that are adapted to children’s learning styles.
Whereas in the aspect of expression, adults must be able to offer various choices and support so that each student can create, learn, and share information according to the student’s style and expression. Adults must also provide a variety of assessment methods that are also adapted to students’ expressions.
Information and materials are made in various ways so that students can understand them easily. Adults are also required to provide a variety of learning media that are adapted to children’s learning styles.
Holy Rafika Dhona, MA, UII Communication Lecturer, and several students of this research cluster held this discussion as a series of community empowerment events in four discussion themes. This discussion is the first one. The moment of discussion with Ana from ECCDRC is part of the implementation of the UII Communication Research cluster, namely the Geography and Environmental Communication Research cluster.
The discussion entitled ‘Reconnection 2021: introduction of inclusive schools and their practice in Indonesia’ seeks to re-discuss learning spaces for Children with Special Needs (ABK). Is he already ideal, is it still just jargon? “The space is a joint construction including a study room for ABK. So far, inclusive schools have been mere slogans,” said Dhona.
