The ACCESS Project, Colorado State University Jesse Hausler, Assistive Technology Coordinator Craig Spooner, Project Coordinator

The Universally Designed Learning Experience

Have you heard the following from faculty?

“I don’t have any students in my class with disabilities.”

A. Yes

B. No

How can we confront this problem?

A. Hold more workshops and training sessions on AT and Accessibility.

B. Implement a set of rules and regulations for faculty to follow.

C. Bribes.

D. Something else entirely.

UDLPromote UDL, not accessibility

Universal Design for Learning

is a set of principles and techniques for

creating inclusive classroom instruction

and accessible course materials.

Defining UDL

teaching

technology

“”

The ACCESS Video

Roots of UDL

Universal Design (UD) - Accommodate the widest spectrum of users without the need for subsequent adaptation

UDL makes teaching and course materials accessible to more students and reduces the need for individual accommodations

UDLUDL and Technology

We know these help students with disabilities

Accessible Web Pages

PDFs with OCR, Tags, Bookmarks

Descriptions for STEM Diagrams

Word documents with Structure

Consistent use of CMS

What are the benefits of PDFs with OCR and Tags

Accessibility via the Tag structure

Search through multiple documents for keywords

Navigation through Bookmarks

Reflow for users with small displays

Text to Speech

Copy and Paste

Who benefits from PDFs with OCR and

Tags?

Students with Disabilities

Students without Disabilities

Faculty

Everyone!

Universal Design?

UDLUDL anticipates classroom diversity

UDL and Teaching

Students are diverse in many ways

Abilities/Disabilities

Age/Life Experiences

Cultures/Ethnicities

Native Languages

Academic Preparation

Learning styles

Learning styles

1. Visuala) Visual-Linguistic (reading and writing)b) Visual-Spatial (graphs and pictures)

2. Auditory (listening)

3. Kinesthetic (touching and moving)

UDL: a framework for inclusive pedagogy

1. Information and concepts are represented in multiple ways and in a variety of formats.

2. Students are given multiple ways to express their comprehension and mastery of a topic.

3. Students engage with new ideas and information in multiple ways.

Representation

Ideas and information are represented in multiple ways Lecture Hands-on activities Graphics/Audio/Video Text

Representation

In our video, who benefits from the: Descriptive audio? Transcripts? Captions?

Expression

Students express their comprehension in multiple ways Oral presentation Written essays Projects/Portfolios/Journals Performance Multimedia (graphics/audio/video)

Expression

Colin from our video Student with Quadriplegia Undergraduate in Landscape Architecture

Assignment: Create a 3D model Physical model Computerized model

Engagement

Give students multiple opportunities for engagement express enthusiasm for topics challenge students with meaningful , real-world

assignments give prompt and instructive feedback on

assignments make yourself available to students during

office hours in flexible formats

Engagement

Physics professor from India has students video tape Q&A during office hours

Individual questions answered for everyone in the course Video Written explanation

Challenge 1

You create a class climate in which student disability is respected.

Which UDL principle does this represent?A. RepresentationB. ExpressionC. Engagement

Challenge 2

You allow students to submit assignments electronically.

Which UDL principle does this represent?A. Representation B. ExpressionC. Engagement

Challenge 3

You provide digital equivalents of all paper handouts.

Which UDL principle does this represent?A. RepresentationB. ExpressionC. Engagement

Challenge 4

Problem-Based Learning (PBL): Start with the problem; instructor guides students as they work together to discover the information required to solve the problem.

Which UDL principle does this represent?A. RepresentationB. ExpressionC. Engagement D. All of the above

Benefits of UDL

UDL focuses on enabling the learning environment

Disabilities are part of the broader range of student diversity

Emphasizes benefits to all learners

Shifts focus from disability and accommodations to broader issues of teaching and learning

Institutionalizing UDL

Embed UDL into all existing professional development In particular, bundle it with existing efforts to improve teaching

and learning

Form a committee or advisory panel made up of “movers and shakers” for innovative instruction

Tie UDL to the strategic goals of your institution

Address the concerns of your audience — What keeps them up at night? WIIFMs?

Provide incentives, create a buzz, get UDL on the radar

Build on the work of the ACCESS Project

Quick Evaluation Question (Just One)

I plan to implement the UDL skills I have learned in this session.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. DisagreeD. Strongly Disagree

http://accessproject.colostate.edu

Thank you