Developing an Online Course - Using Universal Design for Learning Principles

Using Universal Design for Learning Principles

Limited Bandwidth and Technology Concerns

As we now know, many students have limited Internet access connectivity at home and may not have regular access to a computer or laptop given the current tumultuous state of affairs. Throughout this course, we’ve extended Universal Design for Learning principles to accommodate the needs of these students.

What are Universal Design for Learning principles?

The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) developed the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to help instructors and course designers create learning materials that remove barriers to learning. In this course, you will see that each module has a UDL section that provides information on how to facilitate your course with all students in mind so that none of your students have to struggle with the barriers between them and the learning process. While these UDL sections also accommodate students with limited bandwidth and technology access, the principles can be applied to removing multiple barriers as shown in the UDL table to the left.

Here are a couple of brief examples of how you might apply the UDL principles in your online course. If you want students to share their understanding of the information in the assigned readings and engage in community building through group discussions, consider allowing students to participate in the discussions using the LMS, email, or texting (see Module 2 for more details). For Quizzes, consider transferring the questions to a PDF, emailing or texting them to students, and grading them manually when students reply (see more details in Module 6). If a student doesn’t have a computer or laptop, or Internet access, for example, consider allowing the student to complete a presentation on the material rather than submitting a paper. If you are teaching a speech class, consider allowing the students to give one or two of the speeches over the phone rather than uploading a video of their speech. For courses that require a laboratory component, we’ve also collected a variety of Virtual Lab Resources. The message here is to be flexible and provide multiple means for students to show their ability to meet the course objectives.

To better understand the potential barriers your students face, we recommend sending out a survey via students’ institutional email to assess their technological barriers. See the Sample Survey below.

For information on applying UDL principles to course materials - lectures, texts, and ensuring that your course materials meet federal accessibility guidelines, please see Course One in the USG Online Instructor Certification Series.

Sample Survey on Technological Barriers

Here is a sample survey you might send your class. Please replace LMS below with the name of your institutions’ Learning Management System portal.

Describe your access to WiFi (select all that apply)
1. Regular and easy access
2. I can access it at specific times of the day or night
3. Difficulty accessing the bandwidth available
4. Plenty of bandwidth
5. Intermittent access depending on the weather
6. No regular access
7. I need to drive to a library (link), campus, or business to access WiFi
8. No access to WiFi
Describe your access to technology (select all that apply)
1. I have a computer or laptop I can use at any time to access the LMS
2. I have shared access to a computer or laptop that can access the LMS
3. I have no access to a computer or laptop
4. I have regular access to a smart device that allows me to access the LMS
5. I have regular access to a cell phone that allows me to text and email, but not access the LMS
6. I have intermittent access to a cell phone that allows me to text and email, but not access the LMS
7. I have regular and easy access to a landline
If you have any limitations in accessing the Internet and the LMS, please indicate the best way the instructor can contact you and include the email or phone number.
1. Best communication method: _______________________
I understand that if my access to WiFi or technology is interrupted, I need to contact my instructor as soon as possible (text, email, or phone) so that we can make other arrangements for completing the course. I will write down my professor’s communication information so I have access to it for the duration of this course.
1. Yes
2. No

Once you receive the survey results, identify those students who may have difficulty accessing the LMS on a regular basis (at least a few times a week). Please read the special FERPA guidelines you need to follow if you are communicating with your students outside the Learning Management System (LMS).

To learn more about UDL, please visit the CAST website on UDL.

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