Overview
Designing for Access Workshop Series
Every learner arrives in your classroom with unique strengths, experiences, motivations, and needs. This virtual four-part workshop series introduces instructors across campus to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework for designing learning experiences that help all learners grow and thrive. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and practical examples, you will explore inclusive teaching strategies, accessible course materials, and learning environments that reduce barriers and increase access. Each session is designed to provide easy-to-implement ideas that you can apply immediately in your courses. No prior knowledge of UDL or accessibility is required. Whether you attend a single workshop, join the Ask & Explore Lounge, or participate in the entire series, you can choose the sessions that best meet your needs and create your own bouquet of ideas for helping every learner flourish.
Open to all instructors on campus, including graduate students and postdocs.
Designing for Access: Growing UDL Strategies to Reach Every Learner
🗓️ Tuesday, June 16 @ noon - 1:30 p.m.
📍 Zoom
Every classroom includes learners with different backgrounds, strengths, motivations, and needs. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a framework for designing instruction that anticipates and supports this variability. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore practical teaching strategies that increase engagement, support multiple pathways to learning, and provide students with flexible opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge. Through reflection and hands-on activities, faculty will identify small but impactful changes that can help more learners succeed without lowering expectations or increasing workload.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:
- Explain how learner variability informs the design of inclusive learning experiences.
- Apply at least one UDL-aligned strategy to reduce barriers and increase access in a course activity, assignment, or assessment.
Designing for Access: Nourishing Growth with Accessible Course Materials
🗓️ Wednesday, June 17 @ noon - 1:30 p.m.
📍 Zoom
Course materials play a critical role in creating equitable learning experiences. This workshop focuses on designing and selecting materials that are accessible, usable, and inclusive for all learners. Participants will learn how accessibility and UDL work together to reduce barriers in documents, presentations, videos, and other course resources. Through examples and practical exercises, faculty will explore strategies for creating materials that support learner choice, comprehension, and engagement while meeting accessibility best practices.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:
- Identify common accessibility barriers in course materials and instructional resources.
- Revise or create course materials that support accessibility, learner choice, and comprehension.
Designing for Access: Cultivating Environments in Which All Learners Can Thrive
🗓️ Thursday, June 18 @ noon - 1:30 p.m.
📍 Zoom
Learning does not happen in a vacuum. The physical, social, and digital environments we create shape students' sense of belonging, participation, and success. In this workshop, participants will examine how course policies, classroom culture, communication practices, and learning spaces can either support or hinder student learning. Drawing on principles of Universal Design for Learning, faculty will explore approaches for fostering inclusive environments where all learners feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to engage.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:
- Analyze how course policies, communication practices, and learning environments influence student belonging and participation.
- Develop one actionable change that fosters a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Ask & Explore Lounge: Nurturing Access for Every Learner
🗓️ Wednesday, June 24 @ noon - 1:30 p.m.
📍 Zoom
Join us for an informal, conversation-based gathering to continue exploring Universal Design for Learning and accessible teaching practices. Whether you attended one workshop or the entire series, this open lounge provides a space to ask questions, share ideas, discuss challenges, and exchange strategies with colleagues. Bring a syllabus, assignment, course material, or simply your curiosity. Together, we'll explore practical ways to nurture access and support learner success in a welcoming, collaborative environment.