Designing for Success: A Practical Guide to Universal Design for Learning

Designing for Success: A Practical Guide to Universal Design for Learning

Instructor: Nerissa McKinnon-Gary Contact Information: nerissa.mckinnon-gary9693@my.ace.edu

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Create opportunities for everyone to succeed.

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework designed to create inclusive learning environments that accommodate the diverse needs of all students. This online course caters to educators and instructional designers, and participants will learn the foundational principles of UDL, develop practical strategies to design flexible instructional materials, and apply best practices to overcome barriers to learning. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to foster engagement, accessibility, and success for every learner.

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Objectives

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Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Identify the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (Engagement, Representation, and Action/Expression) and their application in education.
• Develop instructional materials and strategies that address learner variability and promote inclusivity.
• Evaluate and adapt existing curriculum plans to align with UDL principles for improved learner outcomes.

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Modules

Unit 1-Introduction to UDL

Unit 3-Best Practice for Online Learning

Unit 2-UDL Principles

Explore the three core principles of UDL—Engagement, Representation, and Action/Expression—and how to apply them to instructional design.

Gain an understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its importance in creating inclusive educational environments that support all learners.

Learn strategies and techniques to implement UDL in virtual learning environments, ensuring accessibility and engagement for all students.

01

Introduction to UDL

Unit ObjectivesDefine Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and explain how it supports creating inclusive learning environments. Identify common barriers to learning and how UDL addresses them to support learners.

01

Introduction to UDL

What is UDL? Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework aimed at creating flexible learning environments that accommodate diverse learners. Developed by CAST, UDL focuses on eliminating barriers by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and action/expression to ensure all students can succeed. Inspired by Universal Design in architecture, UDL emphasizes inclusivity and accessibility for everyone, regardless of ability or learning style.

Click on each heading to learn more about the Universal Design for Learning:

Action and Expression

Engagement

Provide choices, collaboration, and real-world connections to keep learners motivated.

Offer flexible ways for students to demonstrate learning, from writing to hands-on projects.

Representation

Use text, audio, video, and visuals to ensure accessibility for all learners.

Now that you have been introduced to UDL, let's see how much you have learned. Complete the following tasks:

Discussion-Barriers to Learning and UDL Principles

Quiz-UDL Principles

Assessment-UDL Principles

02

UDL Principles

Unit ObjectivesDescribe the three core principles of UDL—Engagement, Representation, and Action/Expression—and their function in lesson design. Analyze real-world examples of UDL implementation to understand how the principles promote inclusivity.

02

UDL Principles

By applying UDL, educators create accessible, adaptable learning environments that support all students, including those with diverse abilities and learning styles. Inthis module, you will explore technology tools and applications that support UDL.

Let's explore some tools that support UDL principles.

EdPuzzle

Explore these free tools and assess how they support UDL Principles. As you are exploring these tools, think about the following aspects: The three core principles of UDL and their function in lesson design. How these tools promote inclusivity. Click on the stars to access these tools.

Make your videos interactive!

Canva

Use creativity to customize information!

Wizer

Differentiate your worksheets and make them interactive!

UDL in Action

Use Canva or a tool of your choice, to create a presentation illustrating you would use the tools from the previous module to incorporate the three UDL principles into a lesson plan.

03

Best Practices for Online Learning

03

Best Practices for Online Learning

Unit ObjectivesApply UDL principles to design accessible and engaging virtual learning experiences. Evaluate online teaching tools and strategies for their effectiveness in supporting diverse learner needs.

03

Best Practices for Online Learning

Best practices for online learning emphasize accessibility, engagement, and flexibility to support diverse learners. This can also include following a code of ethics and properly evaluating technology tools and applications before implementing them into your instructional practice. Utilizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, online courses should provide multiple means of engagement (e.g., interactive discussions, gamified learning), representation (e.g., videos, transcripts, infographics), and action/expression (e.g., written assignments, video submissions, portfolios). Clear navigation, structured content, and consistent communication help students stay on track. Leveraging assistive technology, such as closed captions and screen readers, ensures inclusivity. Encouraging collaboration through peer discussions, group projects, and virtual office hours fosters a sense of community, making online learning a dynamic and effective experience for all students.

M-Learning Tools

Mobile learning (M-learning) is a transformative approach to education that leverages mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to provide flexible, accessible, and interactive learning experiences. It enables students to engage with digital content anytime and anywhere, fostering personalized learning through multimedia resources, gamification, and real-time feedback. M-learning supports diverse learning styles, promotes collaboration, and enhances student engagement through various educational apps and platforms.

Click on the icon to learn more about M-Learning Tools

Use this evaluation tool to evaluate the technology tools from the previous module. You can access the tool by clicking on the picture above.

Go to padlet and post your response to the prompt: Which mobile learning tools stood out to you? How do you plan to integrate those tools into your professional practice? You can access the tool by clicking on the picture above.

A Code of Ethics for Technology Use and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) policies are essential in fostering an inclusive, equitable, and responsible educational environment. It establishes guidelines for equitable access, academic integrity, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence and assistive technologies. Similarly, UDL policies prioritize accessibility and inclusivity by designing learning experiences that accommodate diverse needs, including students with disabilities, neurodiverse learners, and those from varied linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Institutions must align these frameworks to create a more just and inclusive digital learning environment.

Code of Ethics

UDL Policies

Click here to read an infographic about ethical guidelines in instructional design.

Click here for an interactive story board that brings UDL policies to life!

Collaboration and UDLWhile collaborative projects and constructive interactions in online learning present challenges, their benefits outweigh these difficulties when appropriate solutions are implemented. A well-designed collaborative learning environment prepares students for success in both academic and professional settings. The use of structured frameworks, such as peer evaluations and asynchronous collaboration tools, supports meaningful student experiences and productive interactions. It is also paramount that guidelines regarding social media and online etiquette are established to ensure an online collaborative environment that is conducive to learning. By leveraging technology tools, fostering accountability, and addressing accessibility issues, educators can enhance engagement and learning outcomes in online collaborative environments.

Click here to access instructions for a collaboration project that you are responsible for completing.

Click here to access resources that can assist you on your UDL journey.

CERTIFICATEACHIEVEMENT

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recognizing your commitment to learning and your mastery of the course content. Congratulations on this significant achievement!

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ReferencesCanva. (n.d.). Canva. https://www.canva.com Conker.ai. (n.d.). Conker AI. https://www.conker.ai Kialo. (n.d.). Kialo. https://www.kialo.com Miller, M. (2024, March 12). 20 useful ways to use Padlet in class now. Ditch That Textbook. https://ditchthattextbook.com/20-useful-ways-to-use-padlet-in-class-now/ Padlet. (n.d.). Padlet. https://www.padlet.com Pegalajar-Palomino, M. del C. (2022). Implications of Mobile Learning for Sustainable Inclusive Education: A Systematic Review. Electronic Journal of E-Learning, 20(5), 538–553. https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.20.5.2612 Quizizz. (n.d.). Quizizz. https://www.quizizz.com Wizer. (n.d.). Wizer. https://www.wizer.me

More About Course Objectives

1. Understand the Core Principles of UDL** - Define Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its role in inclusive education. - Analyze the three UDL principles—Engagement, Representation, and Action/Expressionand their application to teaching practices. - Identify the benefits of UDL for diverse learners, including those with disabilities and varying learning preferences. 2. Develop Inclusive Instructional Strategies** - Design lessons and activities that provide multiple means of engagement to motivate and inspire learners. - Create materials that offer diverse ways of presenting information, ensuring accessibility for all. - Integrate tools and resources that support learners in demonstrating knowledge in varied ways. 3. Evaluate and Adapt Curriculum with UDL in Mind** - Assess existing lesson plans and materials for alignment with UDL principles. - Revise instructional content to better address learner variability. - Implement practical solutions to overcome common barriers to learning in both physical and virtual classrooms.