Development of Knowledgeable and Resourceful Learners

AbstractThis chapter introduces a study carried out in the context of the transformation of the Lithuanian education system towards inclusive education, with the aim of revealing the educational factors that contribute to students becoming knowledgeable and resourceful expert learners in the universal design for learning (UDL) approach. The UDL framework was chosen as a systematic reasoning instrument for the teacher and the school, aiding in achieving the development of expert learner qualities in every student in the general education context and ensuring the quality of inclusive education. The chapter briefly introduces the theoretical approach of the research, the context of Lithuanian education and the school where the research took place, which is relevant for the interpretation of the results, and other important methodological aspects. The research data show that applying the UDL approach helped the teachers to modify the educational process in order to develop in students the qualities of knowledgeable and resourceful expert learners. The results, presented in a structured manner in the chapter, reveal the process and contributing educational factors to students’ becoming actively perceiving, self-directed, knowledge-creating and co-creating learners and learners constructing their own deep comprehension. The research data reveal the methods used by the teachers to recognise and overcome the barriers in cultivating these qualities in their students. We also identified the emerging changes in teachers’ dispositions when applying the UDL approach and designing lessons aimed at promoting the qualities of knowledgeable and resourceful expert learners.