The Universal Design for Learning Academy for Faculty Across Disciplines

Abstract

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) academy is professional development for faculty focused on exploring and implementing the UDL framework with input from other faculty participants, and the academy instructor. The academy occurs over five, half-days (four hours each) in an in-person environment. The main learning outcome of the academy was to teach faculty about UDL and help them implement UDL in one or more courses. The academy includes inclusive design activities, UDL implementation worksheets, and technology-rich presentations. Faculty participants completed the activities and worksheets that led to self-reflection and implementation of UDL in one or more courses.

Implementing universal design for learning in the library and across campus to promote more inclusive pedagogy

“…Additional details of the UDL academy can be found in the UDL academy lesson (Kirsch, 2023). Faculty completed a series of worksheets during the UDL academy (Kirsch, 2023).…”

“…Additional details of the UDL academy can be found in the UDL academy lesson (Kirsch, 2023). Faculty completed a series of worksheets during the UDL academy (Kirsch, 2023). These worksheets began with faculty sharing information about their course and learners, an analysis of current course materials and listing objectives before moving on to brainstorming UDL solutions, selecting or designing course materials, creating a lesson plan with UDL in mind and evaluating the UDL implementation.…”

“…Documents and syllabi. The documents included worksheets completed by faculty during the UDL academy, which were adapted from worksheets by Hromalik et al (2020) and Kirsch (2023). During the first academy, faculty completed the entire ten worksheets shared by Hromalik.…”

“…I condensed and reorganized the worksheets down to seven worksheets based on faculty feedback, though the information and content covered were the same for both sets of worksheets. The worksheets focused on high-level design and learner analysis, analyzing existing course materials, listing objectives for evaluation, brainstorming UDL solutions, selecting or designing materials for development, UDL lesson plan for one week's worth of a course and implementation and evaluation (Kirsch, 2023). The final worksheet was completed after the UDL implemented course was finished to evaluate the UDL implementation.…”