Syllabus
Master of Science in Education
EDU 730: Leveraging the Variability of Every Learner Through Universal Design for Learning
Credits - 3
Description
This course explores Universal Design for Learning (UDL). It addresses the elements of effective design for learning variability across educational settings including those found in K-12, higher education and corporate environments. Participants will explore and practice designing meaningful learning experiences that meet the needs of all learners.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Outcomes:
- Demonstrate a high degree of specialized knowledge and skills about inclusion practices
- Develop online collaborative relationships with peers
- Explore and apply a wide range of student research-based differentiated practices
- Apply specialized knowledge and skills to create realistic plans for improvement in their districts as team leaders.
- Develop a toolkit of instructional and assessment research-based best practices
Course Outcomes:
- Demonstrate understanding of the UDL framework and how it relates to your current learning environment.
- Critically evaluate the UDL framework as a vehicle for equity.
- Investigate the engagement guidelines of UDL to improve learner outcomes.
- Examine where the UDL engagement guidelines are not being leveraged in your current learning environment.
- Reflect and examine the various resources in your setting that can serve as a barrier to learning or can be utilized with more flexibility.
- Create a UDL Resource Map that identifies current resources, potential barriers, and inventive uses.
- Create a lesson plan (learning experience) that embodies the UDL principles.
- Create a UDL Scavenger hunt that showcases what is currently happening with UDL in their setting.
Assignments
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Weekly Discussions (8 at 3 points each) | 24 |
| Week 1 Assignment: Collaborative Reflection Exercise | 8 |
| Week 2 Assignment: Flexible Learning Environment Planning | 8 |
| Week 3 Assignment: Engagement Reflection Exercise | 8 |
| Week 4 Assignment: Representation Reflection Exercise | 8 |
| Week 5 Assignment: Action and Expression Reflection Exercise | 8 |
| Week 6 Assignment: UDL Resource Mapping | 8 |
| Week 7 Assignment: Designing a Learning Opportunity | 8 |
| Week 8 Assignment: UDL Scavenger Hunt | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Schedule:
- Week 1: Oct 25 – Oct 29
- Week 2: Oct 30 – Nov 5
- Week 3: Nov 6 – Nov 12
- Week 4: Nov 13 – Nov 19
- Week 5: Nov 20 – Nov 26
- Week 6: Nov 27 – Dec 3
- Week 7: Dec 4 – Dec 10
- Week 8: Dec 11 – Dec 17
|
Week 1 |
An Introduction to Universal Design for Learning |
Week 1 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 1 Assignment: Collaborative Reflection Exercise due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 2 |
Essential Knowledge of the Universal Design for Learning Framework |
Week 2 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 2 Assignment: Flexible Learning Environment Planning due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 3 |
Multiple Means of Engagement |
Week 3 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 3 Assignment: Engagement Reflection Exercise due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 4 |
Multiple Means of Representation |
Week 4 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 4 Assignment: Representation Reflection Exercise due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 5 |
Multiple Means of Action and Expression |
Week 5 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 5 Assignment: Action and Expression Reflection Exercise due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 6 |
Designing the Learning Environment for Success |
Week 6 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 6 Assignment: UDL Resource Mapping due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 7 |
Goals and Lessons in the UDL-Centric Environment |
Week 7 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 7 Assignment: Designing a Learning Opportunity due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
|
Week 8 |
Connecting the Dots and Course Reflection |
Week 8 Discussion – Initial post is due on Wednesday by 11:59 PM EST. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Week 8 Assignment: UDL Scavenger Hunt due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
- Education Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/education/
- Library Tutorial: Find an article
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Policies
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Attendance Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.