Welcome Everybody
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the Online Classroom
The quick move to online and hybrid learning has resulted in huge challenges for educators over the last few months, with many thrown into remote learning with very little time to reflect and plan, all while supporting their students. This theme explores how educators can include all students, in particular those with disabilities, in the delivery of teaching and learning online and offer rich, accessible and engaging learning experiences that build meaningful learning connections between staff and students.
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Pre-recorded Sessions
Pre-recorded Sessions
Week 1 Pre-Record 1
- From the trenches: a phenomenological exploration of an instructor’s journey to reflect on learner engagement through the lens of inclusion within the abrupt 'COVID pivot' of two Higher Education courses to online delivery.
Dr Frederic Fovet, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Thompson Rivers University
Dr Frederic Fovet Assistant Professor, School of Education, Thompson Rivers University
Frederic is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Thompson Rivers University. His research and practice both focus on Inclusion and UDL. He acts as UDL consultant to the K-12 and post-secondary sectors, domestically and internationally. Frederic has been offering Masters level courses in Education for eight years now. He focuses on both building learners’ UDL expertise within his courses and modelling UDL in his own design and classroom practices.
Week 1 Pre-Record 2
- Incorporating Digital Technologies and Online Delivery into an Inclusive Curriculum.
Gary Vear, Senior Learning Technologist, University Academy 92Stephanie Petrou, Student Wellbeing Officer, University Academy 92
Gary Vear Senior Learning Technologist, University Academy 92
Gary has worked across Further and Higher Education for over 10 years, and is passionate about making technology accessible to everyone within education.
Stephanie Petrou Student Wellbeing Officer, University Academy 92
Steph has worked with disabled adults over the past 17 years, initially in the social care sector and then within Higher Education. She is passionate about the universal design of products and services to maximise accessibility for all and currently works with the UA92 team to deliver an inclusive student experience.
Week 1 Pre-Record 3
- The Design Thinking Class: experiencing the extremes to inform Universal Design
Allen Higgins, College of Business, University College DublinTina Lowe, Access & Lifelong Learning Centre, University College Dublin
Allen Higgins College of Business, University College Dublin
Allen is a researcher/lecturer in the Management Information Systems subject area in the College of Business at University College Dublin (UCD). He is a member of the UCD Centre for Innovation, Technology and Organisation (CITO) and the UCD Centre for Business and Society. His research applies ethnographic methods to the study of design interaction and collaborative software design processes.
Tina Lowe Access & Lifelong Learning Centre, University College Dublin
I am a graduate of University College Dublin, Ireland, where I have worked since 2008. I am the Campus Accessibility Officer in the Access and Lifelong Learning Centre. Here my role is to work with the university on making the campus universally accessible so that everyone can access all the buildings and access and enjoy the external campus and its amenities.
As a blind guide dog owner my personal lived experience has enabled me to have an insight on what it is like to navigate our environment, and this insight gives me the impetus and drive to assist UCD to improve accessibility.
Tuesday 6th Apr
Tuesday 6th Apr
15:30-16:30 - Conference Orientation Session (Live and Recorded)
- Introductory welcome session for participants, describing how the conference format works and showcasing the platform features
Dara Ryder, CEO, AHEADOrla Lehane, AHEAD
Dara Ryder CEO, AHEAD
Dara Ryder is Chief Executive Officer of AHEAD, having previously managed AHEAD’s digital presence and developed a suite of online CPD programmes relating to inclusive practice in his role as Digital Media and eLearning Manager there.
After graduating from Queens University in 2005, Dara joined Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education as a lecturer, where he became interested in inclusive education when working first-hand with students with disabilities in his classroom. When the opportunity arose in 2008, he joined AHEAD where he has been working ever since on creating inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities.
Trevor Boland, Dublin City UniversityOrla Lehane AHEAD
Orla Lehane is the Education Manager at AHEAD. Orla recently joined AHEAD after fifteen years working in the area of arts and human rights education in both the NGO and Higher Education sectors.
Orla has designed and facilitated creative and inclusive workshops and learning spaces both within and outside of the formal education system. This has included working with early years programmes, primary school children, second level students, third level students and staff in Higher Education settings, and groups of retirees, among others. Orla is interested in UDL and ways to ensure education at all levels is more flexible, inclusive and creative.
Orla Lehane is the Education Manager at AHEAD. Orla recently joined AHEAD after fifteen years working in the area of arts and human rights education in both the NGO and Higher Education sectors.
Orla has designed and facilitated creative and inclusive workshops and learning spaces both within and outside of the formal education system. This has included working with early years programmes, primary school children, second level students, third level students and staff in Higher Education settings, and groups of retirees, among others. Orla is interested in UDL and ways to ensure education at all levels is more flexible, inclusive and creative.
Trevor Boland Dublin City University
Trevor Boland is an experienced Assistive Technology Officer working in Higher Education supporting Students with disabilities. He previously lectured in the Access programme for non-traditional students in TU Dublin.
Trevor was previously the Digital and eLearning Officer in AHEAD and has been involved in the National rollout of the UDL Badge with UCD and the Teaching and Learning Forum.
Thursday 8th Apr
Thursday 8th Apr
15.00-16.00 - Week 1 Keynote (Live and Recorded)
- UDL: Connecting FET Learners, Practitioners, and the World
Ann Heelan, UniversalDesignforLearning.ieDr. Thomas J. Tobin, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ann Heelan UniversalDesignforLearning.ie
Ann Heelan is a consultant on Inclusive Education Practice and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for all students. Originally a teacher and then CEO of AHEAD for 20 Years, she has a track record of working in collaboration with national and international organisations to improve the opportunities and rights of students with disabilities in education. She has written on topics such as “Building Inclusive Learning Spaces,” “Getting Started with UDL,” “Inclusive Study Abroad,” “Accessible Assessment," " Developing your UDL Practice," and "Building Communities of UDL Practice.”
In her role in AHEAD, Ann established learning networks with staff in further and higher education, to support them to work together to make their practice more inclusive of students with disabilities. She was the winner of the Miriam Van Acker Award for Innovation in Inclusive Education in 2017, which recognises leadership in promoting inclusive practice for students with disabilities in tertiary education and employment.
Since 2020 she has been working with SOLAS on behalf of AHEAD to research and write the SOLAS publication on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for FET which SOLAS are due to be published in early in 2021.
She now runs a Consultancy Service supporting staff in tertiary education to get started and reduce the barriers for individual students and to develop UDL practice across the institution.
Dr. Thomas J. Tobin University of Wisconsin-Madison
Thomas J. Tobin, PhD, MSLS, PMP, MOT, CPACC is the Program Area Director for Distance Teaching & Learning on the Learning Design, Development, & Innovation (LDDI) team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as an internationally recognized speaker and author on technology-mediated education. His books include
- Evaluating Online Teaching: Implementing Best Practices (2015).
- The Copyright Ninja (2017).
- Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education (2018).
- Going Alt-Ac: A Guide to Alternative Academic Careers (2020).
16.00 to 16.30 Reconnection Space (Live Only)
- A meeting space to join for unstructured networking and chat with other conference participants. Meet new colleagues and build your inclusive community.
Friday 9th Apr
Friday 9th Apr
14:00-15:20 - Parallel 1: Workshop (Live Only)
- Embracing equity in a public health emergency: the role of UDL in guiding instructors as they adapt to an unprecedented reliance on online and hybrid teaching.
14:00-15:20 - Parallel 2: Themed Presentations (Live and Recorded)
- Easy as 1, 2, 3... Effective UDL Applications for Virtually Connecting with Your Students
Michelle Bartlett, PhD, Faculty Scholar, North Carolina State UniversityDr Suzanne Ehrlich, EdD, Assistant Professor & Program Area Co-Leader, University of North Florida
Michelle Bartlett, PhD Faculty Scholar, North Carolina State University
Michelle Bartlett, Ph.D., is a faculty scholar at the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at North Carolina State University. Michelle received her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership with a cognate in Statistics at Clemson University. She currently is Editor for the Career & Technical Education Research Journal. Michelle has extensive experience designing and facilitating training for post-secondary education, business, and government programs. Michelle creates programs in Executive Leadership, Change, Conflict Management, Empowering Middle Management, Improving Training Effectiveness, and Instructional Design. She serves as VP for Membership on the Research Triangle Area Chapter Board.
Dr Suzanne Ehrlich, EdD Assistant Professor & Program Area Co-Leader, University of North Florida
Dr Suzanne Ehrlich is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Technology, Training and Development program at the University of North Florida. She has presented nationally/internationally on the topics of e-learning, implementing the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework for improved learner engagement and learning design. Her latest publications include her co-PI pilot study on Increasing Learner Engagement in Online Learning through the Use of Interactive Feedback and The Use of iPads to Bridge Education for Post-secondary Deaf Students. Her service efforts focus on faculty enhancement, distance learning, workplace training, and national groups including Educause (ID2ID) and Designers for Learning.
- Universal Design for Learning at UCC: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
Dr Brian Butler, Advisor for Inclusive Education and Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Fellow, University College CorkDr Laura Lee, Research Manager for CIRTL, UCC
Dr Brian Butler Advisor for Inclusive Education and Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Fellow, University College Cork
Dr Brian Butler works with the Disability Support Service and is the Advisor for Inclusive Learning and Teaching at UCC. He is also a Teaching Fellow working with the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) where he teaches on two online programmes for staff of the university. Brian and Laura have co-facilitated the Digital Badge in Universal Design for Learning for three years.
Dr Laura Lee Research Manager for CIRTL, UCC
Dr Laura Lee is the Research Manager in the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL).
- Workshop activities supporting Universal Design for eLearning (UDeL) in Higher Education Institutions
Elinor Jeanette Olaussen, Senior Advisor, Universell, Norway.Dr HÃ¥kan Eftring, Assistant Professor and Director of Studies, Lund University, Sweden.
Elinor Jeanette Olaussen Senior Advisor, Universell, Norway.
Elinor Olaussen is Senior Advisor at Universell, which is the National Coordinator for Inclusion, Universal Design and Accessibility in Higher Education in Norway.
She participated in the coordinator team of an Erasmus+ project about universal design for learning, and has written a Best Practice Guideline for universal design for teaching and learning, and worked to develop and share sustainable systems for individual adaptation and universal design among universities and university colleges in Norway. She has years of experience in arranging workshops for staff in HE, and has in recent years participated as a guest lecturer for educational programs for new academic staff.
Dr Merja Saarela, Principal Lecturer and Research Group Leader, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland.Dr Håkan Eftring Assistant Professor and Director of Studies, Lund University, Sweden.
Håkan Eftring is director of studies at the Department of Design Sciences and a teacher and researcher at the Certec division of Rehabilitation Engineering and Design at Lund University, Sweden. He has a PhD in Rehabilitation Engineering and is doing research in Universal Design.
At Lund University, he collaborates with the Accessibility Officers for students with disabilities and the Division for Higher Education Development. Together, they arrange seminars in Universal Design for Learning for directors of studies, teachers, librarians etc. Håkan teaches industrial design and engineering students in Universal Design, Cognitive Ergonomics and Rehabilitation Engineering.
Dr Merja Saarela Principal Lecturer and Research Group Leader, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland.
Merja Saarela is a Principal Lecturer and Research Group Leader in Multisensory and Assistive Technology (MATEC), in Research Unit HAMK Smart, at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK). She is the project manager of the TINEL project. Currently her research focuses on accessibility in higher education, user-centered wellbeing, information multimodality and assistive technology, interaction on game and learning platforms.
She is interested in social-neurocognitive learning difficulties, especially learning challenges caused by developmental disabilities, dementia and sensory deficits. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education teaching, research and administration. She has also experience in higher education evaluations.
15.30-16.30 Weekly Close and Reflection (Live Only)
- A facilitated dialogue on the Week 1 conference theme, UDL in the Online Classroom, and a space to discuss the issues and questions raised.
Dr Marian McCarthy, Vice President Emerita Teaching and Learning, University College CorkDr Vivian Rath, National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee
Dr Marian McCarthy Vice President Emerita Teaching and Learning, University College Cork
Dr Marian McCarthy is a former Vice President for Teaching and Learning at UCC, a Fellow of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and a Senior Lecturer in Education. She was co-founder and director of UCC’s Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. Her research interests include Multiple Intelligences theory, Teaching for Understanding, Universal Design for Learning and the Arts in Education.
Marian is a member of the Senate of the NUI and a former Governor of UCC. She also served on the Board of Directors of AHEAD, in which she has a keen interest.
Dr Vivian Rath National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee
Vivian is the Organiser of the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee and the TCD Forum for Disabled Staff and Postgraduate Students. Vivian is an academic, a human and disability rights advocate and a change maker. He is currently an Adjunct Teaching Fellow in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Education and the Research Officer with the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD). His Ph.D, titled the “social engagement experiences of disabled students in higher education in Ireland”, focused on the areas of disabled student social engagement, transitions, voice and belonging.
SUPPORTED BY the HEA
The core funding received by AHEAD for its higher education activities is provided by the Higher Education Authority.
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