Authors: Suzanne Wakim, Amanda Taintor
Institutions: Butte Community College, Reedley College
Country: United States
Topic: Applications of Open Education Practices/Open Pedagogy/Open Education Research
Sector: Community College
UNESCO Area of Focus: Inclusive OER
Session Format: Workshop
Abstract
There is no "typical" student. How can we design courses that equitably engage a diverse student population, represent information in multiple formats, and provide students with mechanisms to accurately express their learning? This presentation will look at a course design process to increase student choice, encourage critical thinking, and ultimately improve our students' learning. This list seems an impossible task for any single course to encompass in a way that creates a seamless and exemplary experience for our students. Nevertheless, this is not only possible; it is also more engaging for both the student and the instructor. The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provide a framework to build our courses that are equitable and accessible to all students. The UDL framework bases instruction on multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression. UDL encourages course designs that empower students in how they acquire information and demonstrate their learning. The concepts of backward design, Open Educational Pedagogy, and the utilization of Open Education Resources fit snugly into the UDL framework. Open Educational Resources allow us to curate course content that provides students with multiple means of representation for the subject-matter. These multiple modalities help students better learn and retain the information presented. Open Educational Practices (OEP) help establish UDL in your courses by integrating the concept of multiple means of engagement. OEP allows students to become an active part of the class. Students move beyond being passive recipients of information; they collaborate and help design aspects of the course. Students are also invited to contribute content to the broader educational community. UDL and OEP strategies help us build assignments through backward design that measure student learning outcomes (SLO) more accurately. Backward design encourages instructors to begin their course design by identifying what students will do at the end of the course. Once an instructor identifies outcomes, the instructor works "backward" to design assessments and then learning units. A focus on learning mastery helps instructors build flexible assessments. Students are then able to demonstrate their knowledge using multiple means of action and expression. This process provides more equitable access to education because students can use their strengths to demonstrate content mastery. This session will demonstrate how UDL frameworks coupled with SLO, OER and OEP are useful in designing engaging learning activities and assessments.Keywords
Open Educational Practices, Universal Design for Learning, Student Learning Outcomes, Backwards Course Design
There was a request for information on where to find more diverse images. There’s a great post in the CCCOER blog that shares some good links: