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UDL – What is it and Why is it Important? √ §

Part of the FDC Diverse Classroom Series!

Location

Online

Date & Time

March 15, 2022, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Description

Please join us to discuss an introduction to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a pedagogical framework for cultivating an accessible classroom culture. At UMBC, 61% of students are people of color, 29% of students are Pell grant eligible, and approximately 50% of graduate students are international. While not UMBC specific, nearly 20% of college undergraduates in the United States report having a disability, many of whom do not seek formal accommodations for complex reasons. How can we, as instructors, make strides to provide the learning opportunities, engagement, and evaluation modes our diverse study body requires? UDL can guide us to proactively design our courses (and attitudes!) to accommodate a variety of learners. When multiple means of content representation, engagement, and action/expression are welcome in our classrooms, we may benefit a wider audience than we realize. This session is a venue to learn about the power of UDL and share a few tangible approaches to further promote an inclusive classroom. Note, we are planning an Advanced Topics in UDL session for the near future.

Please click “Going Virtually” below to reserve your seat for this session, and we will send you a Google calendar invitation with a WebEx link one hour before the session. If you register less than an hour before the session, you will receive the WebEx link when you register. Please email fdc@umbc.edu if you have any questions. If you have registered and find that you can no longer attend, please kindly release your spot so that others may attend.

√ Counts toward the ALIT Certificate
§ Counts toward the INNOVATE Certificate

Part of The Diverse Classroom Series
Launched in February 2017!

Sessions in this series are designed to help you capture UMBC’s strengths in diversity to create vibrant learning environments--environments that effectively challenge and support every student. During interactive sessions, faculty and staff colleagues will help you address challenges and explore key questions, for example,
  • How can you learn about your classroom audience to better connect with your students and reflect on their learning needs?
  • How can you make your classroom more hospitable for all learners?
  • How can you handle sensitive discussions in your classroom?
  • How can you ensure that students from different academic and social backgrounds and with different physical and cognitive abilities experience classrooms where they are welcomed, challenged, and supported?
All faculty are welcome to attend, especially those who...
  • aspire to make their classrooms more inclusive of our diverse student population.
For additional resources, see https://calt.umbc.edu/teaching/the-diverse-classroom/.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay