Universal Design for Learning at Scale with Thomas J. Tobin

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for improving learning for all learners based on the science of how humans learn. It involves providing learners with multiple means of engagement, representation, action, and expression. We’ve mentioned the framework on the show from time to time, and I thought it was time to dig in a little deeper. 

Naturally, I thought of inviting Thomas J. Tobin on the podcast. Tom helped found the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Teaching, Learning, & Mentoring, and he is an internationally recognized scholar, author, and speaker on technology-mediated education—especially copyright, evaluation of teaching practices, academic integrity, accessibility, and universal design for learning.

Tom is the co-author (with Kirsten Behling) of the 2018 book Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education, one of the best introductions to UDL around. And then I saw a social media post of Tom’s mentioning that he was working on a new book about UDL at scale. I had to talk to him to about that! 

In our conversation, we talk about the “Plus One Principle” as a way to understand and get started with UDL, the relationship between UDL and the myth of learning styles, the value that UDL can have on student retention and student success, strategics that academic leaders (or would-be leaders!) can use to help their campuses adopt UDL practices, and more!

Episode Resources

·       Thomas Tobin’s website, https://thomasjtobin.com/ 

·       CAST, https://www.cast.org/ 

·       UDL on Campus, http://udloncampus.cast.org/home 

·       Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone, https://wvupressonline.com/node/757 

·       Derek’s sketchnotes of Tom’s 2015 POD Network keynote, https://www.flickr.com/photos/derekbruff/22911027632

·       "Understanding and Evaluating Online Course Accessibility," Limed: Teaching with a Twist [podcast], https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EFmNWWG0JetSaV6uiRyH7 

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