My interest in UDL started early...
Elicia & Dragon,* Pals since 1997
*Dragon=Dragon NaturallySpeaking |
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
No, no, no...not that long ago (or that famous story). Like many people, my awareness of universal design started when a friend was injured; she broke her hand and leg playing soccer. When she returned to school, she needed help with bathroom visits, stair navigation and extra time for completing written assignments and exams. In college, my understanding of universal design expanded from physical accommodations to include learning the best practices for test proctoring, textbook reading (dubbing) and note-taking while working for Disabled Student Services. As a Student Tutor for Student Support Services, also at The University of North Dakota, I learned best practices for tutoring students with reading or writing disabilities. |
After college, making the workplace accessible kept me searching for innovative technology. My responsibility for redesigning a paper-based office into a computerized office for an engineer, who was an incomplete quadriplegic, led me to DragonDictate 30K...and eventually to Dragon NaturallySpeaking. He was able to conduct his business activities, especially his drawing/designing in AutoCAD, by voice instead of relying on a keyboard or mouse. When Dragon NaturallySpeaking broke the 100 wpm, 95% accuracy barrier-Dragon and I became pals.
As an instructional designer today, I continue transforming educational materials into accessible, inclusive, engaging and effective instructional materials. When possible, I incorporate universal design best practices proactively. In most every project, I learn something new about applying UDL principles.
As an instructional designer today, I continue transforming educational materials into accessible, inclusive, engaging and effective instructional materials. When possible, I incorporate universal design best practices proactively. In most every project, I learn something new about applying UDL principles.
What Prompted this Website?
In January 2015, I was well into my doctoral coursework and a college course where we were given the option of a learning portfolio OR a paper. This presented me with an opportunity to dive deeply into UDL, and share what I learned...and have one less paper to worry about.
At the same time, I was designing quest-based (self-paced) Adult Workforce faculty professional development workshops focused on technology integration. In reviewing open education resources (OERs), I learned about a SOOC (supported online open course) focused on the application of UDL. I joined the SOOC and was able to blend my college assignment, instructional design work and share what I was learning in a professional learning community of educators...FANTASTIC!
At the same time, I was designing quest-based (self-paced) Adult Workforce faculty professional development workshops focused on technology integration. In reviewing open education resources (OERs), I learned about a SOOC (supported online open course) focused on the application of UDL. I joined the SOOC and was able to blend my college assignment, instructional design work and share what I was learning in a professional learning community of educators...FANTASTIC!
|
My fearless professor, Myrna Olson, and my encouraging SOOC instructors, Kendra Grant, Luis Perez and Elizabeth Dalton, helped me realize that I was learning more from the feedback and collaboration from educators. So, I began thinking of ways to continue that collaborative learning process. It seemed that an independent site would be a good starting point to facilitate a collaborative learning process.
As 2021 is underway, my contributions will focus on higher education since that is the area I am serving. I encourage fellow educators, trainers and designers from all areas of education and industry to share their UDL expertise and expand the growing body of evidence-based research in UDL. Elicia |
About: |
