Part of UW-Green Bay’s mission is to provide flexible and varied learning opportunities that suit the evolving demographics of our prospective students. Our student body includes a growing number of first-generation college students, student caregivers, and students with disabilities, just to name a few populations. Although the barriers to learning that students may face are varied, there are some evidence-based design strategies that all instructors, regardless of discipline or modality, can implement to support student access and success.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a teaching framework that aims to accommodate the diverse needs and strengths of learners. This includes presenting course information in multiple ways, providing multiple means for students to engage with course materials, and offering multiple options for students to express their mastery of the course concepts.
Equitable Use of Technology refers to the idea that integrating technology in a course must be done thoughtfully to avoid excluding certain students. Some students may be further behind in their technological skills, while others may not have access to a laptop or reliable internet connection. Instructors can help bridge these gaps by designing courses to support students with varied technology skills and access.
Accessibility, for most courses, comes in the form of creating or selecting digitally accessible course materials. Instructors can leverage accessibility best practices, such as adding alt text to images, to make it easier for all learners to interact with a course.
