UDLi August 2023 - Access
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Institute: Access will be held in a hybrid format (in-person and on Zoom), August 15-17, 2023. Participants will have the opportunity to work independently, in groups, and one-on-one with facilitators from the Accessible Dartmouth Initiative (ADI) to design interventions in one or more courses.
UDL & ADI
The national organization CAST defines UDL as "a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn."
ADI aims to help faculty integrate UDL into their courses to better meet the needs of all students, including neurodiverse students – those who learn differently due to conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia – as well as first-generation college students, international students, English language learners, and students of other marginalized identities.
Institute Details
The UDL Institute follows a flipped format, in which you work through about 2-4 hours of asynchronous content (short videos, readings, exercises) independently before attending the 3-day institute.
Institute participants will receive individualized guidance to reach their UDL goals, the opportunity to apply for a UDL course grant, invitations to institute reunion events, recognition of participation on the DCAL website (if desired), and a certificate of completion. In-person attendees will receive lunch.
This institute will focus on the UDL principle of Access. Access from a UDL standpoint focuses on encouraging engagement (Recruiting Interest), providing multiple paths to comprehension (Perception), and offering various modes of interaction with course content (Physical Action) to increase access to the learning goals. See the first row of the Universal Design for Learning Guidelines (CAST) for more details. Access is complementary to but distinct from the formal disability accommodation process.
The institute is designed for anyone teaching a course at Dartmouth. You don't need to have any prior knowledge of UDL, although you can learn more about possible UDL course interventions on the ADI website. Faculty participants will be given priority, however we encourage other educators (i.e. staff, postdocs, and graduate teaching assistants) to apply and we will accommodate these as space allows.
UDLi Goals
During the institute, you will:
- Design and develop 2 or more course interventions based on the Access principle of UDL.
- Describe the relationship between UDL, access, and accommodations.
- Collaborate with colleagues to refine instructional practices and materials.
- Prepare for the Accessible Dartmouth Initiative Course Grant application process and apply, if interested. (Note: Completion of the institute is part of grant requirements, therefore we highly encourage eligible participants to apply.
Key dates
- May 2023 - Applications open and will be reviewed regularly.
- Monday, August 7th, 2023 at noon - Applications for the August 2023 institute are due.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2023 - Institute Canvas site available to participants with pre-work.
- August 15-17, 2023 - UDL Institute sessions (in person in DCAL and on Zoom).
- 10am-2:30 pm EST with a lunch break from noon-1pm
Application Materials
UDLi Applications are due Monday, August 7th, 2023 at noon. Preview the application (DOCX) then submit your answers to the August 2023 UDL Institute Application form.
Thank you for your interest in the UDL Institute. If you have any questions before applying, please contact, dcal@dartmouth.edu.
We're looking forward to working with you.