UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Current faculty and postdocs who want to learn how to reduce the barriers to learning for their students can now earn a Provost’s Endorsement for Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Universal Design for Learning enables instructors to identify and reduce many learning barriers, including physical, emotional, intellectual and socio-economic challenges, as well as challenges caused by athletics or work schedules, family obligations, distance, learning a new language, lack of technology or unreliable internet access. By proactively addressing the variability of students’ diverse abilities, cultural expectations and prior knowledge, UDL makes learning more accessible, thus creating a more equitable environment that is highly engaging and inherently inclusive.
The endorsement is a partnership between the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence and World Campus Online Faculty Development. It begins with the asynchronous, self-guided course OL 3600: Universal Design for Learning. The course explores the rationale and research that supports designing learning experiences with UDL. It will remain available throughout the calendar year to enrollees.
Then, those who complete OL 3600 will be invited to enroll in Teach to Reach with UDL, a four-week, asynchronous, instructor-led online course. Participants will draw upon their own teaching or learning design experience and their existing understanding of UDL to generate and respond to discussions, create a UDL-inspired instructional activity and provide feedback on their peers’ activities. Teach to Reach will be offered in the fall and spring semesters.
OL 3600 and Teach to Reach must be completed within one calendar year for participants to earn the Provost’s Endorsement. The endorsement is facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, associate research professor, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, and Matt Dingo, assistant director, World Campus Online Faculty Development.
Register for the Provost’s Endorsement for Universal Design for Learning through the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement. Register for the first course, OL 3600, through the Online Faculty Development catalog site. Email site@psu.edu with questions.