Overview
An online interactive training course supporting you and your department to design and deliver an inclusive learning environment for all students
The Universal Design for Learning Training Course will offer comprehensive support and interactive guidance on how universities can create, implement and deliver an inclusive approach to the learning experience to support improved student engagement and reduce barriers to learning for disadvantaged and disabled students.
Through expert training, the course will offer interactive discussion and solution focussed workshops to allow participants to develop their own strategy on embedding Universal Design for Learning (UDL) within their course development, teaching practices and assessment delivery.
The course will offer practical takeaways on pedagogy for course leaders and will deliver tips and guidance on how the learning experience can be transformed within your institution. The course will also explore how inclusive learning practices can evolve to meet the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis and the shift to virtual and blended learning.
Learning Objectives
- Gain an understanding of the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how it can be embedded within your department or institution
- Create your strategy for designing an inclusive curriculum and course content which meets the needs of all students
- Learn how to adapt your teaching delivery to support inclusivity in the learning experience
- Develop your approach to inclusive assessment and student expression
- Evaluate how inclusive learning can be delivered to meet the demands of the virtual environment and blended learning in the Covid-19 era
Agenda
- Day 1
- Day 2
Before the training course gets underway, this welcoming session will allow all participants to introduce themselves, share their learning aims for the course and engage in an icebreaker activity before proceedings get underway.
- Examining the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Outlining the key aspects of teaching and learning proposed under the UDL model: engagement, representation and expression
- Evaluating how UDL can be harnessed to customize teaching methods, material and assessment to meet the needs of as broad a range of learners as possible
- Embedding accessibility and universality into the development of the learning experience
This guidance session will offer quick wins in transforming your teaching practices to reflect diverse learning needs.
This session will also feature a quick-fire troubleshooting session where you can raise your questions and challenges in developing a universal approach to teaching delivery.
The session will address:
- Instruction and task formulation
- Induction activities
- Ensuring diverse means of delivery
- Presenting course materials
- Assistive technology and accessibility
- Resource provision
- Matching learning and communication styles
This interactive workshop will explore in more depth how teaching and learning can be designed to ensure engagement and interaction by diverse groups of learners.
Participants will have an interactive experience in exploring strategies and technologies available and will come away with ideas they can implement into course design and delivery.
- Understanding what motivates students in their learning and how than can be translated to an inclusive approach to student engagement
- Designing diverse and flexible exercises which stimulate engagement for a range of learning preferences
- Sharing practical examples and ideas of how to develop a UDL approach to student engagement for both online and in person delivery
- Exploring key tools and assistive technologies that can be integrated into the learning experience
This interactive workshop will allow participants to gain a detailed understanding of designing and delivering inclusive assessment methods for their course provision.
Participants will experience a hands-on approach in learning what inclusive assessment looks like through core examples and case studies.
- Outlining how to design assessment methods which accommodate diverse learning preferences
- Ensuring assessment formulation goes beyond reasonable adjustments and supports a universal approach to demonstrating skills and attainment
- Examining a range of examples and ideas on diverse assessment methods that can be embedded within your course design
This interactive workshop will offer expert support on the key steps in developing teaching and learning delivery based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) across a course team or department. Through group breakouts and structured tasks you will learn:
- How to plan the learning experience around the expectations of diverse learners
- How to design modules and content to ensure flexibility in the way information is presented and accessed
- How to universally reduce barriers to learning by embedding UDL into quality assurance processes and procedures
- How to formulate courses with inclusivity embedded into design
The training course will conclude with an interactive discussion between all participants on how the principles of developing an inclusive learning environment can be tailored to meet the needs of disabled and disadvantaged student amid the Covid-19 crisis.
Participants will explore:
- The shift to blended learning and virtual formats
- Ensuring online delivery is accessible
- Overcoming communication and engagement barriers
- Acting on enhanced barriers to learning including isolation, loneliness and mental health challenges
- Feedback and continuous improvement in teaching and learning delivery
*Programme subject to change