Successful Completion of the First Community of Practice in Universal Design for Learning

By Edna Pressler

Congratulations to our first “graduates” from the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Community of Practice (CoP)! Courtney Cole, Rebecca Des Roches, Catherine Fuller, Annela Kelly, Erin McQuaid, Brian Plouffe, Karen Sawyer, Jennifer Wallace, and Kristen Willems all successfully completed the requirements for a UDL badge.

In Fall 2019, the Regis College Center for Instructional Innovation offered a CoP in UDL for interested faculty. The CoP provided an opportunity for faculty to come together to learn and share ideas about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), facilitated by the Regis College Center for Instructional Innovation and two Universal Design for Learning Teaching Fellows/faculty members from Goodwin College (John Kania, EdD, and Lisa Wisniewski, EdD). Participants represented each of the four schools as well as two campuses (Weston and Lawrence).

With a wealth of resources and three (optional) Zoom sessions to guide and support them, faculty members documented their efforts by responding to an evaluation tool with the following questions about the major UDL principles of Engagement, Representation, and Action/Expression:

1. To what course did you apply the UDL principle?

2. To what barrier(s)/challenge(s) did you apply the UDL principle?

3. How did you apply the UDL principle? (What did you do?)

4. Why did you approach the barrier/challenge this way?

5. What were the successes and/or challenges you encountered in applying the principle?

6. How did applying the principle impact student learning or engagement?

7. What did you learn?

8. What are your next steps?

Based on anonymous feedback at the conclusion of the CoP, participants all agreed or strongly agreed that they had learned a great deal about the UDL Framework.

As a facilitator, John Kania stated that he “was in awe of the work done and the dedication to Regis faculty who were involved in this project to enhance their pedagogical skills and become better reflective practitioners.” Similarly, Lisa Wisniewski was “impressed with the enthusiasm from the Regis faculty focused on their own professional development.” To their praise, Kara Wasnewsky and I would like to add our appreciation. These faculty members showed such commitment to adopting the UDL Framework and advancing the Regis College mission. We hope they will serve as ambassadors for the cause!

#CoP #UDL