The Center for Teaching and Learning is pleased to offer a Community of Practice on “UDL: A Blueprint for Rewarding Teaching & Learning” beginning in Spring 2023. This Community of Practice will focus on proactive practices that increase accessibility and student success within courses while decreasing faculty workload. Ultimately, these practices lead to more rewarding teaching and learning experiences for faculty and students. We will use the evidence-based pedagogical practices of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to create multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression in our courses. These proactive design strategies not only serve diverse learners, but also solve many of the recalcitrant issues faculty encounter within their courses.Participants will gain access to modules and materials focused on the main principles of UDL, course design strategies to increase access, facilitate success for all types of learners, and ways to reduce pain points in teaching. Community discussion will focus on exploring shared topics of interest, design strategies, and reflecting on how UDL can enhance both the experiences of students and teachers. The flexible structure of this Community of Practice will offer faculty multiple pathways for participation. Microsoft Teams will allow for asynchronous engagement, with virtual workshops and coffee chats offered throughout the semester.
Each participant will work to identify ways to implement UDL strategies into their courses. Monthly teaching clinics will guide faculty on identifying “pain points” and working to remedy them through UDL implementation. The Community of Practice will use these experiences to inform a session at the iPed Teaching Conference in May.
Questions? Email Jill Underhill at underhillj@marshall.edu or ctl@marshall.edu.