"Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn." (CAST, 2018)
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strives to design inclusive learning environments that enable participation of all learners through flexible routes for learning. It offers principles and guidelines for curriculum design, teaching methods, materials and assessments that work for all students based on their unique strengths and needs. UDL recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to creating inclusive learning environments and strives to prevent barriers, protect students’ rights to equitable opportunities, and support academic success for all students.
Below is a list of learning opportunities and resources available to faculty and staff to guide the integration of UDL.
The UDL Standard at Centennial College offers a starting point for those who are at the early stage of integrating UDL in their teaching. It highlights key principles and suggested methods for integrating UDL practices.
Faculty are encouraged to complete the self-reflection tool to help assess their current understanding and use of UDL and establish future UDL goals.
This resource offers a how-to guide for faculty to integrate UDL principles into their teaching practices. The guide describes and explains key UDL strategies based on the UDL Standard at Centennial College. It includes detailed information, video tutorials, sample strategies, and interactive self-assessments.
Please access the UDL Faculty Implementation Guide to learn more about how to address perceived barriers to implementing UDL into the classroom and strategies to incorporate in course development and course delivery.
UDL Modules and Workshops
Introduction course:
This course introduces strategies and concrete applications to propel you into implementing the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The course consists of 4 modules: UDL Principles, Course Design, Content & Delivery, and Assessment & Evaluation. Each module comes with a list of resources and interactive opportunities to test your knowledge. You will be awarded a digital badge upon completion of the course. Click here to access this course on Centennial Luminate.
UDL Certificate: "Universal Design for Learning: Inspiring Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education"
This certificate embarks on a learning journey that focuses on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and expands its current application to address the impacts and intersectionality of oppressions that our learners may experience as barriers to reaching their full learning potential. These barriers may include anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, etc. In this course, you will explore the UDL framework and examine its intersections with complementary initiatives such as antiracism, decolonization, the social model of disability, and others. Together, we will reflect on how the UDL framework offers opportunities to co-design inclusive learning environments with our students and colleagues. Then we will apply what we learn to our work in education. By honouring our students’ lived experiences and unique strengths and challenges, we work towards creating welcoming learning environments where all students belong and thrive.
Part 1: Overview
- In our first installment of the five-part series, we dive into the fundamental principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which offers a flexible and inclusive approach to education. Learn about the benefits of UDL for both educators and students, and how it can transform your teaching and learning experiences. We'll also guide you in choosing a specific UDL goal to apply in your educational context, making it more accessible and engaging for everyone involved.
Part 2: Engagement
- In our second installment of the five-part series, we address the challenges of disengaged learners and the importance of identifying 'pinch points' where learning may stall. We provide practical strategies for educators to build rapport with students and foster a more engaging learning environment. Discover techniques to reignite enthusiasm and participation, making education a dynamic and inclusive journey for all.
Part 3: Accessible Content
- In our third segment of the five-part series, we tackle the essential aspect of evaluating the accessibility of digital content. Participants will learn to choose effective methods for assessing digital materials and identify key steps to ensure that content is accessible to all.
Part 4: Assessment
- In the fourth installment of our five-part series, we delve into individualized accommodations for assessments commonly used at Centennial College, ensuring all students have an equal opportunity to showcase their knowledge. Participants will explore various inclusive assessment methods and discover additional resources to foster an environment that values diversity and equity in education.
Part 5: Data
- In our final session of the five-part series, we explore the various categories of data that can profoundly impact teaching practices, enhancing student engagement and success. Learn how to interpret this data through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, empowering you to identify patterns and insights. Discover practical strategies to translate this valuable information into actionable steps, fostering an inclusive and enriching learning environment for all.
Please access the Centennial College Accessibility and UDL Professional Development Shell on eCentennial to view these topics. To access the shell, please login to eCentennial and go to Self-Registration to self-register into the shell. You can also access the self-registration page directly.
DISCLAIMER: The 5 parts can be watched in any order.
Topic 1: Creating a Culture of Accessibility at Centennial College
- In our first segment of the three-part series, we explore the multifaceted concept of disability. Delve into various disability perspectives, the relevant legislation, and Centennial College's accessibility practices. We also delve into the critical topic of ableism in higher education and the intersectionality of disability, promoting a more comprehensive understanding of accessibility and inclusion.
Topic 2: The Academic Accommodation Process and Procedures
- In our second segment of the three-part series, we delve into the essentials of academic accommodations. We'll break down what these accommodations entail and explain the step-by-step process for students to obtain them at Centennial College.
Topic 3: Creating Accessible Learning Environments through the Integration of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- In the third and final part of our series, we explore the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) from the ground up. Learn about the principles and guidelines that underpin UDL, as well as how assistive technology and data play pivotal roles in integrating UDL effectively. We also discuss the intersection of UDL and accommodations, highlighting examples of UDL as a best practice for creating inclusive and accessible learning environments.
Please access the Centennial College Accessibility and UDL Professional Development Shell on eCentennial to view these topics. To access the shell, please login to eCentennial and go to Self-Registration to self-register into the shell. You can also access the self-registration page directly.
Topic 1: Ableism in the Classroom – Workshop
- Ableism is the intentional or unintentional discrimination of people with disabilities in favour of people with able-bodies. It is rooted in the assumption that people with disabilities are "less than" people with able-bodies or need to be "fixed." Ableism can manifest in everyday language, attitudes, and limiting beliefs about what disability. In this interactive workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore how ableism manifests itself in the classroom and discuss different strategies to eliminate it to create an inclusive environment for all students.
Topic 2: UDL and Culturally Responsive Teaching – Workshop
- We educators should make efforts to ensure that our students experience their own learning styles and their own cultures in the teaching and learning process. The diversity of cultures, opinions, experiences, interests, passions can be captured in the tenets of UDL, encouraging students to see the world, and every situation, from various perspectives. We can encourage students to explore issues from multiple angles and value collaboration across lines of difference so they can ask important questions about power dynamics and voice.
Topic 3: Integrating the Principles of UDL into the Workplace – Workshop
- This introductory workshop, participants will learn about the philosophy and practice of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as an inclusive design approach to education. Participants will learn about the UDL Standards at Centennial College, the Plus One approach, and the role of UDL in enhancing accessibility throughout the College community. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on workplace contexts and identify opportunities to implement UDL strategies and tools that enhance the learning and work environment for all.
Topic 4: Promoting Anti-Racist Practices through the Integration of UDL in the Learning Environment
Andratesha Fritzgerald in her 2020 Publication “Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success”, spoke about the utilization of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to create anti-racist learning spaces that will welcome and honour the experiences of students throughout their learning journey. During this interactive session, people will have the opportunity to participate in critical conversations with their colleagues about the ways in which the existing hierarchy and construction of higher educational institutions perpetuate racism, oppression, and the further marginalization of students. With the integration of UDL, we can begin to dismantle this reality to create learning environments that welcome and make students experts in their journey.
For registration and more information, please direct people to the Centre for Faculty Development and Teaching Innovation (CFTDI) weekly Compendium.
These Sessions are for persons who have a fundamental understanding of Universal Design for Learning and accessibility, that was either gained through the previously offered Centennial UDL 5-Part Series or the UDL Certificate: "Universal Design for Learning: Inspiring Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education" at Centennial College.
Please access the Centennial College Accessibility and UDL Professional Development Shell on eCentennial to view these topics. To access the shell, please login to eCentennial and go to Self-Registration to self-register into the shell. You can also access the self-registration page directly.
UDL Value Statements
Centennial College strives to create an accessible, inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all students by integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The College has developed a UDL Standard that highly recommends using the strategies provided within it to begin the integration of UDL into various academic offerings. The college realizes that UDL integration is a journey and that different academic offerings are at various points in this spectrum. The different UDL Value Statements below can be modified to fit within the realities of individual course offerings and are intended to highlight the work that has been done to make these courses accessible to everyone
We all know that the UDL journey never ends, and there is always space for the implementation of one more strategy or practice to increase accessibility further (this is also known as the “plus-one approach”). You will see two examples below, representing different course designs at Centennial College that can give you more ideas on how to implement this inclusive framework:
Corporate Law: LAWS 115
A Graphic Organizer helps with terminology and concepts in corporate law because it can be difficult for students to absorb some jargon and identify relationships among concepts when introduced to corporations in Law. A printed handout explaining the terminology is also used to help students "put on the brakes" and work with the language.
Music Theory Fundamentals: PAFS103
In Music Theory Fundamentals, students can learn at their own pace. Some have a background in music while other students do not; instead, they come from the world of dance or theatre. A module is created for Music Theory Fundamentals that allows students to learn at their own pace and how they would most like to engage with the material. For each mini-lesson, they can choose to:
- read the text
- watch a video lesson
- work through an interactive lesson
They display their knowledge with an online quiz comprising questions and randomized sections. The students can take the quiz as often as they like, from the beginning of the semester to the end, and only their highest attempt counts toward their grade. Therefore, if a student comes into the class with a good understanding of Music Theory Fundamentals, they can take the quiz immediately, ace it, and get it out of the way. Other students take the quiz for the first time as a starting point to figure out where they need to spend some more time, and then they can retake it as often as they like as they progress through their learning. Since the questions are randomized, they'll see new questions (of a similar kind) each time they attempt the quiz.
You are invited to use or alter any of the following Statements to show your dedication toward creating an accessible, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment at Centennial College.
Centennial College strives to develop, design, and deliver courses for our diverse student population and, to that end, encourages the adoption of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework, which recognizes the unique learning needs of every individual. UDL creates an accessible learning environment for everyone by understanding that each individual receives (multiple means of representation), expresses (various means of action and expression), and engages (multiple means of engagement) with content and information in a multitude of ways. The College also recognizes the need to incorporate and maintain flexibility in the learning environment for learners to flourish, and by following the College’s UDL Standard, a learning environment can be created that is welcoming to all.
Centennial College’s curriculum is shifting towards designing with diversity in mind, incorporating multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression. We are working towards ensuring that learning materials and methods should be flexible to meet the needs of all students. As such, this course has been designed using components of the Centennial College UDL Standard.
Centennial College strives to create an accessible, inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all students by integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The College has developed a UDL Standard that highly recommends using the strategies provided within it to begin the integration of UDL into variou
Centennial College is working towards proactively designing a curriculum with diversity and equity in mind, incorporating multiple means of representation (receiving information), engagement (interaction), and expression. We believe that learning materials and methods should be flexible to meet the needs of diverse learners. As such, the College has been working to design its courses to adhere to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework developed by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) and to follow the College’s UDL Standard. The College recognizes that UDL does not replace the need for accommodation. If students require accommodations, they are encouraged to contact the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) at every campus or via email at calcs@centennialcollege.ca.
QUESTIONS?
For any questions or support, please contact the Accessibility Team within Global Citizenship and Education (GCE) at GCEAccessibility@centennialcollege.ca.