Accessing Higher Ground presentation

From Principles to Practice: Faculty Implementation of UDL

PowerPoint Slides : From Principles to Practice: Faculty Implementation of UDL

Presenters:

Cathy Schelly, Colorado State University
Craig Spooner, Colorado State University

Presentation Abstract:

This session will highlight the multiple approaches taken by the ACCESS Project at Colorado State University to “institutionalize” universal design principles and measure their effectiveness on student performance and retention. Collaboration with faculty teaching large, first-year “gateway” courses will be discussed.

For the ACCESS Project, universal design for learning is about improving the academic experience of all students, including those with disabilities. By adopting broad definitions of “accessibility” and “diversity,” UDL is applied to students with both apparent and non-apparent disabilities, as well as students with diverse learning styles and non-native English speakers. When faculty perceive UDL in the context of best practices for teaching and for preparing usable, accessible course materials, buy-in is increased.

Three key points attendees will learn at your presentation:

How a multi-pronged approach to UDL dissemination helps promote institutionalization.
How the adoption of more inclusive definitions of “accessibility” and “diversity,” as applied to people and technologies, helps increase faculty and administrative buy-in.
Examples of how UDL principles can be implemented in large, “gateway” courses.