Explore how to apply Universal Design for Learning in the classroom
New workshop series supports faculty in integrating UDL theory into courses
A new workshop series by The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning will help faculty put Universal Design for Learning into practice in the classroom.
Developed by CAST, a nonprofit education research and development organization, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve teaching and learning, based on scientific insights into how humans learn. The framework includes three principles and nine sub-categories, each with individual elements.
“When you first engage with the UDL framework, it can be overwhelming because there’s so much to look at, it can be hard to know where to start,” says facilitator Johnathan Bevan, an Educational Developer with The Centre. “Our goal with this series is to break down the overall framework and look at the discreet elements, one at a time, and work through how to put them into practice.”
Each workshop will include a brief presentation on a framework concept, followed by working through an exercise on how to apply the concept to course materials. Each workshop explores an individual consideration. Each event in the series is self-contained, you do not need to attend the entire series to understand and participate.
“It is important that we start to dismantle the ableism that exists in higher learning. For those who do not experience barriers to engaging in education, it is difficult to perceive how people are being excluded,” says Bevan. “Taking the time to work through an individual UDL principle will help understand where there are barriers in your practice. Incorporating one element of UDL to your pedagogy will influence other aspects of your teaching. This is because each element functions individually and is also complimentary to the wider philosophy.”
Bevan notes that integrating UDL is an ongoing process of learning and refinement. “Universal design should not be understood as a destination or a checklist. It is a process that exists in conversation with the people who are engaging with our practice,” he says.
Bevan is hopeful this series helps faculty, both in integrating concepts into existing course materials and to look at including UDL in their course design—something Bevan can also support.
“The whole point is to engage critically with pedagogical practice to remove barriers,” he says. “The more we practice implementing UDL principles, the more meaningful our pedagogical design will be for the students we are seeking to teach.”
Universal Design for Learning Workshops – Winter Term 2025
UDL in Practice: Optimize Relevance, Value, and Authenticity
Thursday, January 30, 12 – 1 pm
Description: The session will focus on CAST’s UDL principle of optimizing relevance, value, and authenticity and how it can be directly applied to pedagogical practice.
UDL in Practice: Clarify the Meaning and Purpose of the Goals
Thursday, February 27, 12 -1 pm
Description: The session will focus on CAST’s UDL principle of clarifying the meaning and purpose of the goals and how it can be directly applied to pedagogical practice.
UDL in Practice: Recognize Expectations, Beliefs, and Motivations
Thursday, March 27, 12 – 1pm
Description: The session will focus on CAST’s UDL principle of recognizing expectations, beliefs, and motivations and how it can be directly applied to pedagogical practice.
UDL in Practice: Represent a Diversity of Perspectives and Identities in Authentic Ways
Thursday, April 24, 12 – 1pm
Description: The session will focus on CAST’s UDL principle of representing a diversity of perspectives and identities in authentic ways and how it can be directly applied to pedagogical practice.