Ensuring that students have the background knowledge for learning new information is a guideline for which principle of UDL?

The principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) that states the importance of ensuring that students have the background knowledge for learning new information aligns with providing multiple means of representation. This principle emphasizes the necessity of presenting information in various formats so that all learners can access and understand it, which includes offering background knowledge that is critical for processing new information effectively. By catering to diverse learning needs and backgrounds, this principle supports the idea that learners can better engage with and retain new concepts when they build upon their existing knowledge bases.

The other principles, while important in their own right, focus on different aspects of learning and engagement with content. For instance, multiple means of engagement focuses on the ways in which students are motivated to learn, while multiple means of action emphasizes the various ways students can navigate and express their learning. Multiple means of assessment pertains to the diverse methods by which learners can demonstrate knowledge and skills. Each principle plays a role in supporting an inclusive learning environment, but the specific guideline regarding background knowledge fits most appropriately with the concept of representation.