Removing Barriers

As we all know, our students bring a wide variety of skills, needs, and interests to the classroom. The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provide instructors with a framework for designing educational environments that allow all learners to gain knowledge, skills, and the enthusiasm that comes with learning. The goal of UDL is to provide all students with support and remove any barriers to the learning process. For example, even PowerPoints need to be accessible. CSU Sacramento has a great PPT accessibility checklist.

Employing universal design principles in planning and developing courses from the very beginning creates an accessible environment, minimizing the need to alter it later for individuals with special needs. In addition, all learners benefit - special needs or not.

The needs of all learners can be met by applying the following principles to the development of goals, instructional methods, classroom materials and assessments:

Provide multiple and flexible methods of presentation to give students with diverse learning styles various ways of acquiring information and knowledge
Provide multiple and flexible means of expression to provide diverse students with alternatives for demonstrating what they have learned
Provide multiple and flexible means of engagement to tap into diverse learners' interests, to challenge them appropriately, and to motivate them to learn

Ten Steps Toward Universal Design of Online Courses

Implementing the principles of universal design in online learning means anticipating the diversity of students that may enroll in your course(s) and to plan accordingly. These ten key elements will greatly enhance the accessibility and usability of your course for students with and without disabilities.

In addition to these excellent resources, Jane Sim at CSUSM developed this quick-glance Course Site Design: Best Practices checklist that will help ensure your course provides easy and equal navigation for all users.

Todd Rose: Variability Matters

This video (YouTube, approx. 10 min.) is a clip of Todd Rose, from CAST at the Cyberlearning Research Summit on January 18, 2012, talking about the importance of variability in education.

Todd Rose: Variability Matters

Optional Readings and Information: Specific Academic Applications

The University of Washington has a comprehensive Universal Design for Instruction site for instructors. Examples of universal design strategies that can be utilized when engaging in specific academic activities are included.

Sonoma State University also offers a variety of links and resources to support instructors in the design or redesign process. Many of these materials are available to download by accessing the drop-down menus on the SSU Faculty Center website.

Captioning Methods for Delivery
Universal Design/Accessibility Recommendations for Online Course Materials
General Welcome to Students Example (Video from CSU Long Beach instructor 5:46 min.)

https://youtu.be/CsmifNut_e8