Applying Gamification to Enhance the Universal Design for Learning Framework

Abstract

In today's classrooms, several students are confronted with situations where access and meaningful learning opportunities are a daily ordeal. While the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can be used to proactively design and develop lessons that address the individual needs of a range of learners, more research into the mechanisms that would facilitate the implementation of the UDL principles is needed. Gamification and game-based learning have risen as a promising tool to provide accessibility to a wide range of learners through game features. Drawing on the UDL principles, this study reviews some key gamified design features that would allow full access to the general curriculum for the broad range of learners found in today's diverse classrooms. Teachers, educators, and learning material developers can take away some practical ideas that can help inclusive lesson plans involving game-based learning.