Think UDL

Welcome to Episode 156 of the Think UDL podcast: Math Choices and Contract Grading with Tracey Howell and Trina Palmer. Dr. Tracey Howell is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Dr. Trina Palmer is a Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Appalachian State University. In today’s conversation we discuss several UDL interventions in math courses including contract grading and various choices you can give your students in math courses. We will discuss the benefits and types of contracts you could use if you implement contract grading as well as student reaction to contract grading. We also discuss the use of technology and opportunities for choice in math classes and how these were received looking at student feedback. Trina and Tracey have graciously shared their slides from a presentation they gave on this topic and you’ll find it in the resource section just before the transcript on this episode’s webpage at ThinkUDL.org.

Welcome to Episode 155 of the Think UDL podcast: Accessible Initiatives with Carly Lesoski, Courtney Floyd, and Majo Brito Paez. Carly Lesoski is the Learning Innovation Program Manager at the Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning. Courtney Floyd is a Senior Learning Designer in the Learning Design and Innovation’s Learning Lab at Dartmouth and Majo Brito Paez is also a Learning Designer in LDI’s Learning Lab at Dartmouth. In today’s conversation we will discuss the free and helpful resources that these brilliant minds have produced that we can now all use to help our faculty and staff incorporate UDL into our learning environments, including fantastic case studies that anyone can use for their own trainings on UDL in higher education, so that you are not left reinventing the wheel at your institution.

Welcome to Episode 154 of the Think UDL podcast: Slow Pedagogy with Constanza Bartholomae. Constanza Bartholomae is the Interim Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. I’ve worked with her several times and we share a passion for engaging environments and, of course, UDL. Today’s conversation centers on Slow Pedagogy and UDL. You’ll learn not only what Slow Pedagogy means, but also how to implement more thoughtful, deep-learner driven interventions into your teaching practice. And perhaps, give you another way to think about how your students learn and how to go about designing your courses. 

You’ll find the resources mentioned in this conversation in the resource section just before the transcript on ThinkUDL.org.

Welcome to Episode 153 of the Think UDL podcast: Designing For Success in Online Learning with Nicole Messier. Nicole Messier is the Associate Director of Instructional Design @ University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) where she leads the instructional design team, manages course development and instructional design projects, facilitates equity-focused workshops, consults with UIC instructors, and collaborates with UIC stakeholders on projects, initiatives, and committee work. Nicole brings her passion for curriculum development and education reform to every course, project, and training including the reason for today’s conversation, a presentation called Designing for Success: Integrating Executive Function Supports and UDL in Online Learning. In today’s episode, we will discuss how small design choices make a big impact on student success. We will explore how to support learners by tapping into the power of executive functioning skills like time management, organization, planning, and self-regulation, and apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies that foster autonomy, reflection, and engagement. We’ll discuss practical, easy-to-implement techniques that help students stay on track, feel empowered, and thrive in online learning environments. Whether you're refreshing an existing course or building something new, you'll leave with actionable ideas to make your design more inclusive, supportive, and success-oriented. You’ll find the resources mentioned in this conversation in the resource section just before the transcript on ThinkUDL.org.

Welcome to Episode 152 of the Think UDL podcast: OER Resources with Carolee Clyne from UDL in 15 minutes. This episode features Carolee Clyne from BCcampus in British Columbia. She shares her passion for Open Education Resources and how they connect with UDL. This episode is a feed drop of another UDL podcast called UDL in 15 minutes, hosted by Loui Lord Nelson, a scholar, author, and UDL advocate and consultant, and also my friend and a fabulously generous person! When I broke my ankle in 2023, she sent me a surprise care package with all the things I needed in my recovery since she had gone through the same thing!  Funny story, Loui and I started our podcasts within a week of one another in 2018 and have been fans of each other’s work since then. Loui’s podcast focuses mainly on UDL in the K-12 setting, while Think UDL focusses on UDL in Higher Ed and beyond. I interviewed her for my podcast (checkout Episode 116, the UDL gears with Loui Lord Nelson, after you listen to this one!) and she has hosted me on her podcast, Episode 126 of UDL in 15 minutes: Using UDL to Design Campus Policies and Procedures. The reason for this feed drop is to make our listeners aware of the quality UDL work going on all over the world on behalf of learners of all ages. Check out the UDL in 15 minutes website to see many more episodes that intersect with UDL in higher Education, mostly in the teacher education area in colleges and universities, but there are a few other gems that are directly related to higher education, too. We want you to gain inspiration, build on the ideas you hear, identify new connections, and increase accessibility, equity and inclusion for all learners. Thank you for listening to the Think UDL podcast.