UDL Goes to College: Transforming the University Classroom with Universal Design for Leaming
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Authors
Laist, Randy
Issue Date
2023-03-24
Type
Other
Language
en_US
Keywords
Universal Design for Learning , Curriculum , Education
Alternative Title
Abstract
The spirit of flexibility inherent in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) allows it to encompass the diversity of postsecondary educational environments. UDL-informed teaching can address what CAST refers to as "the wide variability of learners in higher ed environments" (n.d.), but it also provides an educational philosophy that is adaptable enough to apply to the wide variety of disciplines typically offered on most college campuses. UDL theory provides core principles that penetrate to the heart of any learning situation, making it a powerful framework within which to reflect on course design and teaching practice in a cross-disciplinary way. Since 2018, Goodwin University has been partnering with CAST to incorporate UDL principles into our educational practice, as well as our organizational philosophy. Over the last few years, faculty members have been immersed in UDL training, and many of the university's classes have been redesigned to anticipate and optimize learner variability. Throughout this process, we have fostered a campus-wide conversation about inclusivity in teaching and learning, and we have challenged ourselves to reimagine higher education for the twenty-first century. This chart, modeled after CAST's UDL Guidelines matrix, indicates some of the ways that Goodwin professors have adapted UDL principles into their teaching to address a variety of educational challenges across a wide spectrum of disciplines.
Description
UB RISE 2023, English Department, College of Science and Society, University of Bridgeport.