Applying Universal Design
for Instruction to Online and
Blended Courses
Joseph Madaus Ph.D.
Manju Banerjee Ph.D.
Kim McKeown, M.A.
Nicholas Gelbar, M.A.
Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability
Center for Students with Disabilities
University of Connecticut
The UDI Online Project is funded through the
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
PR/Award #P333A080053
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
1
Presentation Objectives
• Provide an overview of Universal Design for Instruction
(UDI) and its application to online & blended courses
• Describe the UDI Online Project
• Describe the UDI e-Toolbox and demonstrate the use
of several e-Tools
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
2
Universal Design
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://data.greatbuildings.com
“The design of products and environments to be usable
by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without
the need for adaptation or specialized design.”
Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
3
UDI at UConn
• Project One (1999 – 2002): Assuring Equal Academic
Access for College Students with Learning Disabilities
by Implementing Universal Design in the Instructional
Environment (McGuire & Shaw)
• Project Two (2002 – 2005): Designing Inclusive College
Teaching: Empowering Faculty to Promote Equal
Educational Access for Students with Cognitive
Disabilities, www.facultyware.uconn.edu (McGuire, Scott, & Shaw)
• Project Three (2008 – 2011): UDI Online,
www.udi.uconn.edu (Madaus & Banerjee)
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
4
Universal Design for Instruction
“UDI is the proactive design and use of inclusive
instructional strategies that benefit a broad range of
learners including students with disabilities.”
Scott, McGuire, & Shaw, 2001
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
5
Nine Principles of UDI
©
Principle 1 : Equitable Use
Principle 2 : Flexibility in Use
Principle 3 : Simple and Intuitive
Principle 4 : Perceptible Information
Principle 5 : Tolerance for Error
Principle 6 : Low Physical Effort
Principle 7 : Size and Space for Approach and Use
Principle 8 : A Community of Learners
Principle 9 : Instructional Climate
Scott, McGuire, & Shaw, 2001
Principles with definitions and examples can be found at:
http://www.udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/examples-udi-online-andblended-courses
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
6
UDI: Some Assumptions
• Focus on proactive planning and design to enhance:
- Accessibility
- Usability
- Effectiveness
• Concurrent goal is to reduce need for:
- Retrofitted accommodations
- Modifications
• Faculty as designer
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
7
Appling UDI to
Online & Blended Courses
4.6 million students were taking at least 1 online course
Allen & Seaman, 2010
>1
in
4 students
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
8
Students with Disabilities in
Higher Education
Students w/ disabilities are 11% of all college students
GAO, 2009
2008
ADHD
2004
LD
2000
0
5
10
15
20
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
25
30
9
About UDI Online
• US Department of Education, OPE Grant (PR/Award #
P333A080053, 10/1/08-9/30/11)
• Collaborative project between CPED and CSD
• Faculty as designer
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
10
Student Survey & Interview Results
• Advantages
• Challenges
• Recommendations for Online & Blended Courses
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
11
Faculty Survey & Interview Results
• Advantages
• Challenges
• Recommendations for Online and Blended Courses
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
12
e-Tool Selection Process
• Considerations for e-Tool selection:
– Cost
– Accessibility
– Usability
– Effectiveness
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
13
e-Tool Review Process
• Faculty Reviewers at 5 institutions
• Faculty Reviewers reviewed e-Tools
• Students reviewed e-Tools
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
14
e-Tool Assumptions
• UDI is not about instructional technology alone
• An e-Tool alone is not an example of UDI
• Not all e-Tools will work with all students
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
15
UDI e-Toolbox
http://www.udi.uconn.edu
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
16
UDI e-Toolbox:
Cognitive Access
Cognitive Access within UDI Online refers to approaches
and elements that assist diverse learners to acquire,
comprehend, recall, apply, evaluate, integrate, and
express information within a digital learning
environment.
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
17
UDI e-Toolbox:
Communication Access
Communication Access within UDI Online refers to
approaches and elements that provide multiple
opportunities for interaction and dialogue to engage
diverse learners within a digital learning environment.
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
18
UDI e-Toolbox:
Physical Access
Physical Access within UDI Online refers to approaches
and elements that support the ease of navigation of
course web sites, clarity in the display of course content,
and creation and presentation of course information in
multiple formats to provide opportunities for diverse
learners to acquire and manipulate course content
within a digital learning environment.
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
19
UDI e-Toolbox
• Cognitive Access
http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/cognitive-access
- Course organization and expectations
- MS Word http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/microsoftword-hyperlink&prev=Cognitive
- Instructional supports and materials for course content
- Adobe Acrobat
http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/adobe-acrobat-pro-90commenting&prev=Cognitive
- Student assessment
- Rubrics
http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=node/355&prev=Cognitive
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
20
UDI e-Toolbox
• Communication Access
http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/communication-access
- Faculty – Student and Student – Student
engagement
- Twitter
http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/twitter&prev=Communi
cation
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
21
UDI e-Toolbox
• Physical Access
http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/physical-access
- Navigation
- Jing
- http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/jing&prev=Physical
- Display
- VoiceThread
- http://udi.uconn.edu/index.php?q=content/voicethread&prev=Physical
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
22
UDI Web Site
• http://www.udi.uconn.edu
• Resources
• Professional Development Modules
• Technical Briefs
• Discussion Board
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
23
Q&A
•Questions?
•Thank You
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
24
Additional Information
• UDI Online Project
• www.udi.uconn.edu
• [email protected]
• Manju Banerjee
• [email protected]
• Joseph Madaus
• [email protected]
• Kim McKeown
• [email protected]
Permission is granted to copy this document for educational purposes; however,
please acknowledge your source using the following citation:
University of Connecticut, Center on Postsecondary Education, UDI Online
Project. (2011, February). Applying universal design for instruction to
online and blended courses. Presentation at the 2011 NERCOMP Annual
Conference. www.udi.uconn.edu
UDI Online Project Team
University of Connecticut, 2010
25