scholarly journals A System-Wide Approach to Universal Design for Learning Implementation

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Joni L Degner
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Value System ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Every Student Succeeds Act

Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an instructional framework based in neuroscience, optimizes teaching and learning by supporting learners through three overarching principles: Multiple Means of Engagement, Multiple Means Representation, and Multiple Means of Action and Expression (?About universal?). These principles and the subsequent framework that grew out of the work of CAST co-founders and framework co-creators Dr. David Rose and Anne Meyers has become greater than the sum of its parts. Practitioners who have even dabbled in Universal Design for Learning have likely come to the understanding that UDL is a student-centered value system of flexibility, accessibility, and high standards for all students; indeed, the goal of Universal Design for Learning is to create learning environments where students grow to be experts in their own learning. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) defines and endorses Universal Design for Learning as the framework for designing learning experiences that support the success of all learners

Using Digital Tools to Foster Student Engagement Within the Universal Design for Learning Framework

2020 ◽  
pp. 411-428
Author(s):  
Lisa Harris ◽  
Lindsay Yearta ◽  
Allison Paolini
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Learning Framework ◽  
Design For Learning

Students are diverse. They vary widely in their background knowledge, interests, languages, academic strengths, and learning needs. In order to retain these students, higher education institutions must create flexible and engaging learning environments. Universal design for learning (UDL) is a research-based framework used to guide the development of instructional goals, teaching methods, materials, and assessments to meet the needs of all learners. The three overarching UDL principles and corresponding guidelines are discussed as a framework for making decisions about integrating digital tools into teaching and learning environments. Examples of how the authors have used technology to meet the guidelines in higher education classrooms are provided.

Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Diverse Educational Environments

2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kathleen Bastedo ◽  
Jessica Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Stepping Stone ◽  
Design Learning ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Educational Environments ◽  
Diverse Learning ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Made In

Learning can be difficult for a myriad of reasons and not just for those with disabilities and for those dedicated to teaching in its many forms. It can be next to impossible to accommodate the variety of students encountered in today’s diverse learning environments. This is where the principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can be successfully applied. This chapter explores the strides made in creating content that brain-based research supports as a way for not only motivating students to learn, but also for allowing those with disabilities a way to learn that meets their specific needs. Although there is no one surefire way to design learning that teaches everyone, UDL is a stepping-stone to that pursuit. If implemented to its fullest potential, it can be a panacea to reducing many barriers to access and learning.

Meeting the Needs of Exceptional Students

2012 ◽  
pp. 28-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Frey ◽  
E. Ann Knackendoffel
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Exceptional Students ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
K 12

Today’s K-12 classrooms are learning environments that present teachers with the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of learners. Utilizing technology and the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can help teachers to meet the exceptional needs of learners in a variety of areas. This chapter presents ideas and strategies to utilize technology to facilitate the implementation of UDL principles (using multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression in the design of instruction) in teacher education and K-12 classrooms. Each principle of UDL is described, and examples of technology that can support implementation of the principle are shared. The chapter concludes with considerations for teacher education programs including providing modeling of UDL instruction and designing instruction with UDL in mind.

Using the SAMR and UDL Models to Differentiate Online Instruction

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-157
Author(s):  
Joanne Caniglia ◽  
Michelle Meadows
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Interactive Software ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Inclusive Learning ◽  
Design For Learning

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss two frameworks that are useful for integrating and differentiating technology within online learning environments for students with disabilities: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition Model (SAMR). Following a review of the literature of each framework, the interactive software program, Desmos®, will be used to demonstrate how to integrate these two models. Finally, the authors make recommendations that will support all students to benefit from an online environment and engage in inclusive learning experiences.

scholarly journals Using Webquest As A Universal Design For Learning Tool To Enhance Teaching And Learning In Teacher Preparation Programs

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Hui Yang ◽  
Pei Wen Tzuo ◽  
Cecile Komara
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Diverse Learning ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Strongly Agree

Developed by Dodge (1995), WebQuest is an inquiry-based teaching tool, in which students of all ages and levels participate in an authentic task that use pre-designed, pre-defined internet resources, though other print resources can also be used. Learners will put the focus on gathering, summarizing, synthesizing, and evaluating the information within clearly defined parameters in order to accomplish an authentic task set by the instructor. WebQuest takes a problem-solving approach and exhibits a clear structure that guides the learning processes and interactions (Dodge, 2001), and can be used for different subject areas across age levels, from young children to adult learners (Ezell, Klein, Hines, & Hall, 2003). In teacher preparation, research has shown that WebQuest enhanced problem-solving skills, higher order thinking, motivation, creativity, critical thinking, active learning, connection to authentic contexts (Abu-Elwan, 2007; Allan & Street, 2007; Lim & Hernandez, 2007) and assisted in bridging the theory to practice gap (Lim & Hernandez, 2007). It should be noted that most studies were conducted on the subject areas of Math, literacy, or science. In Singapore context, many local teachers still havent heard of WebQuest and learned about using WebQuest in their teaching. Further, few research studies have focused on establishing WebQuest as an evidence-based practice in enhancing teaching and learning or a pedagogy promoting Universal Design for Learning and inquiry based learning. This research project intends to introduce WebQuest, to be modelled and integrated in a course training special education pre-service teachers (allied educators) in Singapore. Specifically, the following research questions were posed: (1) Does the use of WebQuest in teacher preparation promote special education teachers understanding on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in accommodating students with diverse learning needs? (2) Does WebQuest a useful tool to enhance teachers higher order thinking, engagement, creativity, and collaborative learning skills? (3) Does the use of WebQuest in teacher preparation foster stronger desires for teachers to integrate ICT in teaching and learn more about WebQuest? Forty one teacher responded to a survey questionnaire after experiencing WebQuest developed by the course instructor in teacher preparation program. Teachers also learned about WebQuest as an Universal Design for Learning tool for students with diverse learning needs. The majoirty of teachers indicated strong favors over WebQuest activities over traditional teacher-directed learning methods. All participants found WebQuest helpful in accommodating individual differences and learning styles (Agree: 68.3%; Strongly agree: 31.7%). Forty teachers (N=41) reflected that they used more critical thinking and problem solving skills when they engaged in the WebQuest activities developed by the instructor (39% strongly agree and 56.1% agree). Thirty nine teachers agreed that they were required to use more creativity when they engaged in the WebQuest activities (24.4% of teachers stronly agree and 68.3% agree). The majority of teachers (26.8% strongly agree and 68.3% agree) felt that they know more about ways to incorporate technology for teaching and learning after experiencing WebQuest in this class. They also indicated that they would like to use more technology and web resources in teaching in the future after learning about WebQuest (41.5% strongly agree and 53.7% agree).

The Potential of Distance Education for the Inclusion of Students in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 379-401
Author(s):  
Carla Freire ◽  
Catarina Mangas ◽  
Rogério Costa ◽  
Adriana Lage Costa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Virtual Learning Environments ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Design For Learning

We live in a changing world, where the role of educational institutions is being transformed. The available technologies allow new conditions to access learning; however, as they evolve very fast, sometimes it is challenging to track this evolution regarding the changes that entail to all of us, which may contribute to a digital divide if it is not well addressed. This chapter intends to present distance education as a reliable modality to include students in higher education. For that, it presents the universal design for learning and its crucial role to make inclusive virtual learning environments. Like every modality that exists, there are some challenges that need to be addressed, as well as some benefits that allow to see the potential of this modality to learning, overcoming some adversities that may occur, like the lack of time to go to face-to-face education or even the need of social isolation by risk of getting a disease.

Cultivating Student Engagement in a Personalized Online Learning Environment

2020 ◽  
pp. 267-287
Author(s):  
Jeremy Anderson ◽  
Heather Bushey ◽  
Maura E. Devlin ◽  
Amanda J. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Degree Completion ◽  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Course Content ◽  
College Degrees ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Learning Frameworks

Higher education has a national imperative to change the ways it supports its increasingly non-traditional populations who seek completion of college degrees in more flexible online environments. However, online education can present challenges to such students learning remotely and often independently, and who may struggle with accessing, understanding, and processing course content and achieving mastery of outcomes. A unique model based on technology and data-driven decision-making that is undergirded by two teaching and learning frameworks—adaptive learning and universal design for learning—is presented, along with outcomes and best practices. By adopting revolutionary methods of engaging students online and ensuring mastery of course and program learning outcomes, which enhance persistence and degree completion, such a model addresses this national educational imperative.

Designing STEAM Learning Environments

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Haidee A. Jackson ◽  
James D. Basham ◽  
Kelli Thomas ◽  
Cassandra L. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Collaborative Problem Solving ◽  
Learning Spaces ◽  
Steam Education ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
21St Century Learners ◽  
Design Challenges

This chapter highlights some of the technological changes in society that have led to an increased need to consider instructional and design challenges in implementing STEAM education. Specifically, the chapter discusses how challenges related to designing learning environments in STEAM education can be mediated through application of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Consideration is given towards designing for flexible and useable STEAM learning spaces by thinking about and planning for learner variability as a key component towards designing inclusive, humanistic educational experiences. In addition, STEAM learning spaces are discussed in terms of catalyzing learner creativity, providing for individualizing instruction, and empowering 21st century learners to develop collaborative, problem-solving tools, and soft skills.

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