Unlearning: Changing Your Beliefs and Your Classroom with UDL

by Allison Posey, Katie Novak

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) suggests exciting ways to design and deliver engaging, rigorous learning experiences-as a growing international movement of UDL practitioners can attest. However, implementing UDL also requires us to unlearn many beliefs, assumptions, and teaching practices that no longer work. In this lively and fun book, UDL experts Allison Posey and Katie Novak describe colleagues who have implemented UDL and experienced exponential increased graduation rates, an increase in the number of students taking AP exams, and decreased special education referrals and out-of-school suspensions. However, they have also found that sometimes, even when teachers learn about UDL and believe in its power to transform their teaching and learning environments, many still do not change. They don't believe this is because educators are unwilling to make changes, but perhaps because they may not think there is a strong reason to change, or perhaps they do not know the first steps to take. The authors have wrestled with this dilemma for years, trying many different approaches to teach and model UDL. They have come to understand that for all the research, brain science, and best practices that are behind UDL as a way to reach all students without differentiating learning at every turn, there is an elephant in the room. Most teachers - and they include themselves in this group - have a hard time integrating new learning. Why is changing what we do so hard? Posey and Novak posit that, to change how we think about teaching, how to manage classrooms, and how to develop curriculum, we must unlearn. In a profession that spends so much time thinking about learning, the process of unlearning is what needs to happen before real change can happen. Wait, what? The unlearning process has been such a transformative experience for Posey and Novak that they want to invite fellow educators on this journey to design learning experiences that not only are accessible for students but that challenge them to become more autonomous and self-directed in their learning. They have seen student agency increase and engagement skyrocket when UDL is implemented. They have observed teachers transformed by UDL who celebrated their learning journeys along the way. But this isn't just a book about UDL. It is a book that recognizes the fact that we aren't meeting the needs of all students and we know that we can. The process of unlearning as part of the learning process has been well documented. What is unique about this book is that the authors support the process of unlearning using UDL. UDL is a tool that guides the design of learning environments to support the anticipated variability of students, to help educators be goal-directed and to prioritize engagement, and to ensure that every individual knows how to be an expert learner who is motivated, knowledgeable, and strategic. Posey and Novak developed The Unlearning Cycle to support educators seeking to implement UDL in their practice. It includes the following essential elements, though these do not necessarily occur in a linear 1) Understand variability 2) Know your goals 3) Transform tried-and-true practices 4) Prioritize engagement 5) Scaffold expert learning This book is for teachers and the professionals who support them. It is for educators who are interested in UDL but have not been able to transform practice to increase the outcomes of all learners. As an educator, you can go through the process individual, with a team in a professional learning community, or as a school or district.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Professional Development

128 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2020

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

God, did I hate this book! It’s a simplistic and contradictory regurgitation of the learning sciences fads of the last 15 years. There is nothing particularly innovative about UDL, save for how it’s been dressed up in drag and calls itself another name. Both CAST (the organization behind UDL) and this book lack clarity and specificity around their approach. Namely, in this book, the authors (who are surely banking off their ability to market to desperate administrators and educators) employ metaphors left and right to explain certain concepts, only to tread on the overarching messages being professed. It’s mind-boggling. I think the real point of contention is that there are inherent flaws with capitalistic schooling systems, and rather than actually engaging in “unlearning” or “destruction”, these authors and UDL proponents in general assert that we can reform and fix our way out of essentially (as in their “essence”—their very being and make-up) unjust systems.

Until we are ready to ask the actual heavy-hitting questions and engage in earnest unlearning, UDL and all these reformist fads will only continue to mask the disparities and inequities that we propagate every day—intentionally or not—as part of the American education complex.

If someone makes you read this book, or even if you’re wild enough to pick it up out of your own volition, I beg you to keep your eyes focused beyond the veil.

[Lorraine Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

New to UDL? This book is the perfect primer to get you started. It's short and provides many opportunities to reflect on your own thoughts of "unlearning" the methods that no longer work. Unfortunately, I already had this foundation and nothing offered was new to me.

[Terese Weiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read that introduces you to some concepts within Universal Design for Learning, but not explicitly about UDL.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text is a great entry point for anyone looking to build their foundational knowledge of the UDL framework, as well as how we can support a shift in our own beliefs & habits.

[Emma Kagan]

Read for professional development during the ‘24-‘25 school year.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I’ve read about UDL, and there have been many. Clear action steps in moving forward in developing understanding and implementation in practice.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class… incredibly repetitive

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlearning is a short, thoughtful read about letting go of outdated ideas we’ve been taught about teaching and learning. The authors outline a practical cycle to help shift your mindset and grow your teaching practice in meaningful ways so that all students under your care learn and find joy in it. This book is centered on the idea of UDL (Universal Design for Learning for all my non-teaching followers).

What I loved:
✅ Short and to the point
✅ Uplifting, inspirational quotes throughout
✅ A practical, repeatable cycle for examining and shifting beliefs

There wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy—this book is meant to be a quick dive into a mindset-shifting cycle, not a full guide to implementing UDL. It left me wanting more when it came to practical steps for applying UDL thinking, so I’m planning to explore more in-depth UDL reads next.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great (and short) but because I need to reread and focus, it took awhile to read! Lots of great ideas to put in action.