Professional learning communities (PLCs) help educators build community with one another, work towards shared goals, and problem solve with each other when challenges arise.
PLCs, using the principles of UDL as the foundation, have the potential to increase expert teaching and learning. By optimizing expert learning and focusing on eliminating the barriers that prevent all students from learning, groups of educators can foster their own growth and continuous improvement.
The UDL PLC structure promotes a continued professional learning opportunity for teachers to plan standards-based units of instruction, incorporate student engagement and choice, discuss applied practices, review student work/data, and offer each other feedback. Even the most experienced teachers can sometimes struggle with universally designing learning experiences which is why the PLC structure can optimize community and a shared responsibility for implementing the UDL framework.
