Abstract
Higher education has a unique landscape that influences the methods of implementing and scaling UDL. In this SIG, we will network to collaborate with others in higher education who are working towards implementing UDL into their systems, practices, and thinking. By developing such a network, we will facilitate sharing of practical strategies, information, and professional development materials.
*For the purpose of this group, “implementation” refers to the intentional development of UDL initiatives to increase quality of learning for the predictable variability of higher education students and faculty today.
Area of Interest and Why it is Important
Within the higher education landscape, there are unique challenges. Some of these include: differing school models and missions, degrees of faculty’s focus on research (sometimes over instruction), the size of classes and campuses, the connections between faculty and students, the lack of education background for many individual faculty, the relationship among faculty and other service providers (e.g., disability services), and the impact of legislative accessibility standards (different for different countries). We also recognize that “Higher Education” is not a monolithic group, but one populated by different types of institutions that serve different populations and have different needs. Together we will support the variability of our members and build a community that co-creates the direction of the SIG. Some topics of discussion may include:
- Curriculum development
- Procurement
- Technology selections
- BYOD
- Identifying and addressing conceptual misunderstandings of UDL in higher ed (e.g., confounding of UDL and accessibility)
- Getting started with UDL
- Effective on-site networking
Activities
- Network UDL practitioners for mentoring or by common interest
- Quarterly member meetings to discuss specific topics of interest
- Annual meeting at the UDL-IRN Summit
- Identify and share talent and foci such that individuals will know where to go for ideas, supports, resources
- Identify and share strategies on “how to get started” on your campus, with recognition of variability in types of colleges/universities and how this variability affects implementation.
- Develop resources that will assist institutions in overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of UDL implementation.
- NOTE! We are member-driven. Our activities expand and grow per the needs and leadership of our community. If you have an idea, let us all know!