Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
I have experienced 3 semesters at TRU and I hold a strong belief that all of my instructors really respected UDL in their teaching. Firstly, they offered the students multiple ways of representation. It could be in-person lectures, synchronous classes, journals, textbooks, youtube videos, open-learning resources, recorded presentation with voice over, guest speakers to deliver the curriculum. Secondly, in regard to engagement, beside of grades, we were encouraged to participate group discussion and individual defense. We could also have freedom to choose topics that we are interested in for assignments. Thirdly, the instructors allowed us to decide how we wanted to perform our assignments such as youtube video, pecha kucha, photovoice, individual or team work. Briefly, I am convinced that I have experienced explicitly UDL in my studying at TRU.
Read and Write was such a great tool for international student like me. It offered verbal and visual dictionary, vocabulary list, highlighters, annotations, readers. It definitely helped me to read more productively, note questions easily, improve listening skills, and build up vocabulary. Read and Write facilitated international students to remove language barrier which contributed to equity in learning, one of core values of UDL.
Kate
Hi Kate. Thank you for your post. I have also experienced UDL by some instructors at TRU and can see the value as a learner and teacher. The instructors at TRU that have offered a UDL curriculum are also the instructors that do a great job of balancing theories we learn with the practical application as teachers and students – like the way this class is organized. Unfortunately, I have also experienced some instructors that focus too much on theories with limited practical applications and have strict rules for completing assignments. From this experience, I learned how important the student experience is to developing a useful UDL. Emilio
Thank you Kate for your information on Read and Write. I agree that this is an effective tool and falls perfectly in line with UDL. I allow students, regardless of ability, to use this function to help make their work easier.
I also wanted to add that I love the picture you placed with this. I have seen other versions of it and really like this one because it shows how equity and inclusion are synonymous.