Voices From the Field

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Moore ◽  
Frances G. Smith ◽  
Aleksandra Hollingshead ◽  
Brian Wojcik
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diverse Learners ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Universities And Colleges ◽  
Design For Learning

There is increasing pressure on universities in the United States to meet the needs of diverse learners. This fact increases the urgency for implementation and scaling up of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in higher education. This qualitative study draws two major insights from interviews with six faculty members from universities and colleges around the United States who have experienced a degree of success (personal to institutional) in implementing UDL. First, successful implementation and scaling up of UDL initiatives often occur when UDL is presented in response to a clear problem, issue, or inquiry rather than more direct approaches. Second, I articulate an emerging conceptualization of “levels” of implementation and apparent aspects that enable an institution or group to move from lower to higher tiers.

More Than One Way: Stories of UDL and Inclusive Classrooms

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Alisa Lowrey ◽  
Aleksandra Hollingshead ◽  
Kathy Howery ◽  
John B. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
General Education ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
The United States ◽  
General Education Teachers ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Severe Intellectual Disability ◽  
Design For Learning

Voices of practitioners are often missing in research studies. This project focused on examining general education teachers’ stories as they relate to implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and inclusion of students with moderate to severe intellectual disability. Seven general education teachers from Canada and the United States participated in this study. Narrative inquiry was utilized as a method of data gathering and analysis. Four themes emerged: designing for learner variability, talking about inclusion, teaming fosters success, and differing descriptions of UDL. Discussion of implications to research and practice is included.

scholarly journals Familiarity, Current Use, and Interest in Universal Design for Learning Among Online University Instructors

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl D Westine ◽  
Beth Oyarzun ◽  
Lynn Ahlgrim-Delzell ◽  
Amanda Casto ◽  
Cornelia Okraski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Online Faculty ◽  
University Instructors ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Survey Results

This study investigated online faculty familiarity, course design use, and professional development interest regarding universal design for learning (UDL) guidelines. The researchers surveyed all 2017 to 2018 online faculty at a large university in the southeastern United States. Findings included 71.6% of faculty reporting familiarity with at least one UDL guideline, with most respondents indicating familiarity with guidelines relating to perception, expression, and communication. Faculty reported the highest implementation of UDL guidelines was for those suggesting options for comprehension as well as expression and communication; the lowest implementation was for those suggesting options for physical action as well as language and support. Survey results also indicated high to moderate interest in learning more about all UDL guidelines, with emphasis on comprehension, persistence, and expression. This study suggests that faculty members desire UDL training and offers possibilities for planning and implementing such professional development in areas targeted to best meet the needs of online faculty.

scholarly journals A practice-based intervention to prepare preservice teachers for inclusion using universal design for learning

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mary Elizabeth Decker
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
General Education ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Diverse Learners ◽  
Fundamental Knowledge ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
The Impact

General education pre-service teachers are expected to teach diverse learners, including those with disabilities, in the general education settings. Yet many are not adequately prepared to teach all students. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to increase inclusive practices, however, it is unknown how to best teach this to pre-service teachers. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of using a practice-based approach to teach UDL as compared to a lecture-based approach to teach UDL to better prepare general education pre-service teachers. Constructs of interest include pre-service teachers' fundamental knowledge including UDL, self-efficacy and UDL application. A mixed methods triangulation design was employed. While pre-service teachers from both groups had significant gains in their foundational knowledge, reported self-efficacy, reported UDL knowledge and ability to apply UDL ideas, participants in the practice-based group did have some advantages, specifically in the area of UDL application.

scholarly journals Inclusion, universal design and universal design for learning in higher education: South Africa and the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Dalton ◽  
Marcia Lyner-Cleophas ◽  
Britt T. Ferguson ◽  
Judith McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Full Inclusion ◽  
International Policies ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Inclusive Learning ◽  
Design For Learning

Around the world, institutions of higher education are recognising their responsibilities to achieve the full inclusion of individuals with differing needs and/or disabilities. The frameworks of universal design (UD) and universal design for learning (UDL) offer unique ways to build inclusiveness in our systems. The role of UD and UDL to strengthen successful inclusion of persons with differing needs in higher education programmes is presented from literature, inclusive of national and international policies and resources. Examples from South African and US institutions of higher learning are shared. Discussions of online accessibility, environmental issues, professional development, barriers to inclusion and recommendations for future development in an international context provide a vision for developing inclusive learning environments in higher education.

Improve the Flipped Classroom with Universal Design for Learning

2017 ◽  
pp. 449-471
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Tobin ◽  
Barbi Honeycutt
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Perceived Workload ◽  
Classroom Flip

The flipped-classroom approach has been adopted widely across higher education. Some faculty members have moved away from it because of the perceived workload required in order to implement a full course “flip.” Faculty members can adopt the three principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to reduce their own workload and make their flipped-classroom content and interactions more engaging, meaningful, and accessible for students. Adopting both the classroom flip and UDL provides benefits to learners and instructors that go beyond adopting either separately.

Using Universal Design for Learning as a Lens to Rethink Graduate Education Pedagogical Practices

2021 ◽  
pp. 168-187
Author(s):  
Frederic Fovet
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Graduate Education ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Diverse Learners ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Inclusive Pedagogy ◽  
The Many

Universal design for learning has gained interest from the higher education sector over the last decade. It is a promising approach to inclusion that allows instructor to design for optimal flexibility so as to address the needs of all diverse learners. Most implementation efforts, however, have concentrated on undergraduate education. The presumption is that graduate students have developed the necessary skills to perform, by the time of their admission into the graduate sector. It is also assumed, somehow, that the graduate population is homogeneous, rather than diverse, even if the literature does not support such assertions. Inclusive pedagogy therefore does not seem currently to be a priority in graduate education. This chapter will debunk these myths and highlight the numerous challenges graduate education faces, as a sector, with regards to the inclusion of diverse learners. It will then showcase the many ways universal design for learning is pertinent and effective in tackling these challenges.

scholarly journals Postsecondary physics curricula and Universal Design for Learning: Planning for diverse learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Scanlon ◽  
Jillian Schreffler ◽  
Westley James ◽  
Eleazar Vasquez ◽  
Jacquelyn J. Chini
Keyword(s):  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Diverse Learners ◽  
Design For Learning

scholarly journals Integrating Universal Design for Learning in Schools: Implications for Teacher Training, Leadership and Professional Development

2020 ◽  
pp. 295-318
Author(s):  
Frederic Fovet ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Management Of Change ◽  
Deficit Model ◽  
School Communities ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
K 12

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has gained momentum in K-12 education over the last decade. It enables educators to go beyond deficit model approaches to inclusion, and offers sustainable practices for the inclusion of diverse learners through intentional design for instruction and assessment. Promotion of UDL has taken many forms, from provincial projects to school communities of practice. A challenge remains, however, when comes time to widen implementation efforts. There remain specific challenges with regards to the scaling up of implementation strategies across schools and school boards. The process of management of change towards wider UDL buy-in is complex and leads to a necessary questioning of current professional development practices for in-service teachers, and of pre-service teaching in its present format. This chapter will explore these contemporary issues, as well as the wider reflection around leadership that must accompany this process.

Improve the Flipped Classroom With Universal Design for Learning

2019 ◽  
pp. 247-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Tobin ◽  
Barbi Honeycutt
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Perceived Workload ◽  
Classroom Flip

The flipped-classroom approach has been adopted widely across higher education. Some faculty members have moved away from it because of the perceived workload required in order to implement a full course “flip.” Faculty members can adopt the three principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to reduce their own workload and make their flipped-classroom content and interactions more engaging, meaningful, and accessible for students. Adopting both the classroom flip and UDL provides benefits to learners and instructors that go beyond adopting either separately.

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