Working with Students with Disabilities
What is Universal Design?
Elements of Good Teaching
Universal design is an approach to designing course instruction, materials, and content to benefit people of all learning styles without adaptation or retrofitting. Universal design provides equal access to learning, not simply equal access to information.
Who benefits:
- Students who speak English as a second language
- Ethnic/racial minorities
- International students
- Nontraditional students
- Students with differing learning styles
- Individuals with disabilities
- All students
Consider the following:
- Begin lectures by reviewing important points from the previous lecture and give an overview of topics to be covered that day.
- Emphasize important points and key concepts during a lecture. Develop study guides with main concepts.
- Leave time for students to ask questions and discuss concepts.
- Provide periodic summaries during the lecture and emphasize key concepts.
- Give assignments in writing as well as orally and be available for clarification.
- Be available during office hours for clarification of lecture material, assignments, and readings.
- Encourage students through the semester by frequently reminding them of assignments and deadlines.
- Provide a comprehensive syllabus with clearly identified course requirements, accommodation statement and due dates.
- Fluctuate instructional methods; provide illustrations, handouts, auditory and visual aids.
- Describe how you are going to calculate the grades and give an explanation of what is required to receive a particular grade.
- Choose textbooks for which electronic format is available.
- Give more frequent exams that are shorter in length.
- Provide Web enhanced instruction by putting classroom materials on the web. Ensure that the web format is compatible with adaptive technology.
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