Individual Choice and Autonomy

Try options that increase individual choice and autonomy (UDL 7.1).

One of the most successful ways of getting students interested is to provide them with choices and opportunities for personal control. In an instructional setting, it is often inappropriate to provide choice of the learning objective itself. But it is often appropriate to offer choices in terms of how that objective can be reached, the context for achieving the objective, the tools or supports available, and so forth. It is often even sufficient to provide peripheral options – in the appearance or sequence of options – to recruit interest. Offering students choices can develop self-determination and pride in accomplishment; it can also increase the degree to which they feel connected to their learning. (It is important to note that providing choices is an important option, not a fixed feature – there are cultural and individual differences that can make increased choice a negative rather than a positive influence.)
 
Examples to try:

• Provide students with as much discretion and autonomy as possible by providing choices in such things as the:
• Level of perceived challenge.
• Type of rewards or recognition available.
• Context or content used for practicing skills.
• Tools used for information gathering or production.
• Color, design, or graphics of layouts, etc.
• Sequence or timing for completion of subcomponents in tasks.
• Allow students to participate in the design of classroom activities and academic tasks.
• Involve students, wherever possible, in setting their own personal academic and behavioral goals.