Putting Universal Design Into Practice

This webinar, made available by Internet Scout Research Group, provides an overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles as well as information for instructors to apply UDL principles to courses and syllabi. The presentation was given by Rachel Bower, Director/PI ATE Central University of Wisconsin Madison, and Sam Catherine Johnston, Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Development at CAST.

Objectives for the webinar include:

• Understand how accessibility fits into the Universal Design for Learning framework.
• Provide examples of the application of the four POUR principles in the context of a syllabus.
• Identify AEM Center and CAST resources for further learning about universally designed educational materials.

Background information is given on ATE Central, as well as the mission and goals for The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) Center and CAST. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is defined as "a framework based on scientific insights into how humans learn that seeks to optimize instruction in order to allow every person to become an expert learner." The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 from AEM use the acronym POUR (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) to define the four qualities of an accessible user experience. Detailed instructions are given on how POUR can be used to make content of course materials, such as images and videos, more accessible. The three layers of UDL guidelines are described in detail: Creating Access: Universal Design and AT, Making Learning Meaningful: Build Learning Skills, and Building Independence: Internalize Learning Behaviors. The webinar recording runs 1:03:22 minutes in length and a .pdf of the presentation slides is included.