Bringing together educators and learning experts, it was an opportunity to take a deeper dive into UDL and complementary frameworks like community building and empowerment to improve learning across professional development and higher education ecosystems. 

As a sponsor for the event, we were excited to sit in on some great conversations and hear fresh perspectives on continuous improvement, inclusive pedagogy, and more, while sharing a bit of our own mission to deliver inclusive, engaging, and accessible digital-enabled learning experiences for all.

Conference highlights

A snapshot of two attendees interacting during a networking session at a previous annual CAST UDL symposium.

• Unpacking Nicole Tucker-Smith’s keynote speech on cultivating brave spaces by designing from diverse perspectives
• Discovering the concept of the science of hope and how it impacts learning from Cathleen Stocktill-Beachboard
• Participating in a continuous improvement activity with Alia Latorre
• Digesting Humberto Hernandez’s insights into inclusive pedagogies

Takeaways from the 9th annual CAST UDL Symposium 2023

Diversity and intersectionality collectively drive change and innovation.

Nicole Tucker-Smith set the scene with a powerful keynote speech on designing from diverse perspectives, noting that the power of intersectionality is required to solve problems on a large scale. Among her references was a study showing the impact of diversity on the scientific community and how it resulted in improved problem-solving, specialization, objectivity, and more.

To conclude her speech, Nicole shared some concrete ideas about how to design learning environments free from limits:

• We embrace and showcase learner variability when we give learners a wide range of options, including aspirational ones.
• Diverse strategies make learning more effective. Consider storytelling, holistic thinking, systems approach, and analogies. 
• Be proactive in setting learning outcomes, and ensure the design of your learning programs empowers participants to meet them. Designing for learner variability takes into account individual and cultural characteristics.

Learners thrive when we prioritize their strengths.

Cathleen Stocktill-Beachboard’s session was centred around the science of hope and how it impacts learning. In particular, she focused on positive framing: Learning shouldn’t be something to endure; rather, it should be a positive experience that empowers learners to enhance their capabilities and gain confidence in their learning journeys.

Cathleen highlighted that the onus for learning is not just on the learner—education and training experts can do a lot to set learners up for success. In order to make learning more effective, she suggested strategies like enabling reflection, feedback, and goal setting, as well as: 

• making the subject matter relatable to the learner’s perspective and objectives
• providing additional resources and a community of practice to give learners a path forward when they run into challenges
• empowering learners with agency and choice so they can take ownership of their learning journey

Continuous improvement is a key ingredient to successful learning programs.

Whether you’re running onboarding programs or employee training, continuous improvement in learning and development can be a valuable practice in building learning tools and pathways to help learners bridge theory to practice.

 But how do you implement continuous improvement and ensure your learning programs continue to meet the desired levels of impact across the organization? 

In a continuous improvement activity with Alia Latorre, we practiced answering three questions to assess and drive continuous improvement: 

1. What problem are we trying to solve?
2. What change might we introduce and why?
3. How will we know that a change is actually an improvement?

There’s more to inclusive training than accommodations.

In his talk about facilitating inclusive teaching, Humberto Hernandez pointed out the barriers disenfranchised learners experience in programs across the United States. 

For instance, the term “inclusivity” is often associated with accommodations and “making room” for others, but it’s more than that. Inclusivity, especially in learning environments, involves welcoming users through language, design, and engagement. We can achieve this outcome through a deliberate and proactive process that not only designs for but also designs with diverse users.

Another barrier is that learning programs are mostly facilitated by subject matter experts who have limited experience in instructional design and learning science, and therefore can face challenges in applying inclusive practices in a learning environment.

The solution to these barriers mirrors our approach to course design, which includes:

• challenging traditional methods of learning by reviewing educational foundations and processes
• bringing subject matter experts and learning experts together to combine their expertise in building effective learning programs
• making digital learning environments more human by including options to engage with other learners and providing opportunities for learners to apply and contextualize courses in relation to their work and lives

The CAST UDL Symposium 2023 was an excellent opportunity to explore UDL best practices and other evidence-based frameworks that empower learners to move from theory to practice.

We look forward to next year’s symposium and the chance to connect with more of you as we continue to work to advance the goals of UDL.

Interested in learning more about how UDL can help you reach your organization’s training goals?

Over the years, we have set new standards of learning through projects that prioritize the UDL principles of Engagement, Representation, and Action and Expression.

Learn how we helped George Brown College build UDL capacity at scale across Ontario institutions.

The post CAST UDL Symposium 2023 Recap appeared first on Say Yeah!.

A snapshot of a diverse group of six attendees interacting during a networking session at a previous annual CAST UDL symposium.

The annual CAST UDL Symposium provides an excellent opportunity to explore Universal Design for Learning best practices and other evidence-based frameworks that empower learners to move from theory to practice. As eLearning innovators dedicated to prioritizing learner variability, we’re excited to share our perspective on practices that complement and advance the goals of UDL.

We can’t wait to hear from speakers like Nicole Tucker-Smith, Loui Lord Nelson, Tolu Noah, Alia Latorre, James McKenna, Jennifer Pusateri, and more.  

Explore the event agenda

Want to know more about how we approach UDL in course design?

Over the years, we have set new standards of learning through projects that prioritize the UDL principles of  Engagement, Representation, and Action and Expression.

Learn how we helped George Brown College build UDL capacity at scale across Ontario institutions. 

The post Join us at the 9th annual CAST UDL Symposium, July 31-August 1, 2023 appeared first on Say Yeah!.

However, recognizing the problem does not always mean the solution is obvious. In this article, we will explore a number of ways to build flexibility into eLearning programs. But first, let’s start by reiterating why flexibility is so important and what we really mean by rigid learning models.

One size does not fit all.

Many online courses suffer from the same problem: they follow a rigid structure that doesn’t fit the unique modes of learning, schedules, and circumstances of individual learners. 

 It doesn’t matter how interesting or innovative the subject matter of a course is if learners struggle to navigate the course platform or can’t recall what they’re supposed to have learned.

Participants of an online course will interact with the digital interface in different ways, especially those with specific learning needs such as disabilities and accessibility accommodations.  eLearning and training stakeholders have an obligation to deliver courses in ways that support their full engagement. It’s also becoming increasingly clear that when we build accessibility and flexibility into online learning programs we provide a better experience for everyone.

Learners want online courses, and organizations and educational institutions are increasingly providing them, but reports show a 20% drop in engagement when online courses are delivered using rigid learning models rather than in-person. This represents an opportunity—we can do better! 

The key is flexible online learning models.

Introducing flexibility into online learning models

Traditionally online courses have been taught either synchronously or asynchronously.

Synchronous delivery is when a course or training is delivered at a specific time and place, often guided by an educator. Commonly used by higher education institutions, a potential drawback is low attendance due to scheduling conflicts, illness, childcare, etc.

Asynchronous course delivery, on the other hand, allows learners to access course materials at their own pace, promoting flexibility and self-regulation. The challenge lies in the disconnect between the learner and the instructor. Without access to guidance, real-time answers, and instruction, learners may struggle to reap the benefits of their learning programs.

On their own, either of these online learning models can be a mismatch for a learner’s needs, priorities, and resources. So what other options are there?

The bi-modal learning model

Bi-modal learning gives learners choice and flexibility by offering multiple modes of course delivery and incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in course design so learners can engage with the content and demonstrate their achievement of learning outcomes in multiple ways.

In her article “A Case for Bi-Modal Flexible Learning, Part 1,” Kerri Shields describes the bi-modal course delivery options as follows:

1. Synchronous online delivery with an asynchronous option for learning
2. Synchronous in-person delivery with an asynchronous option for learning

The advantage of the bi-modal learning model is it empowers student choice; they can change how they wish to study at any time without missing important course material. By incorporating multimedia resources, interactive content, and immersive technologies, bi-modal flexible learning also enhances engagement and understanding. Furthermore, it is not as demanding to implement for educators as some other options like HyFlex delivery. 

Ravinder Brar, Director, Education and Partnerships at Say Yeah, says a learner-centred approach is key to setting up learners for success.

“We all learn in a variety of ways, and the learning ecosystem should honour and support learner variability. This can be achieved by creating personalized learning that can be accessed in a variety of modes and ensuring content is available through accessible asynchronous modes.”

Filling the gaps with the variable learning model

Building on the bi-modal model, Say Yeah’s variable learning model puts learners first by combining technology and education best practices to support learners in their preferred mode of learning. We create online courses for asynchronous delivery that provide a wide variety of modalities and incorporate interactive elements usually only found in traditional learning environments. These include:

• communities of practice, which allow learners to ask questions and connect with educators/SMEs
• a digital resource toolkit to enable reference, application, evaluation, and analysis as course participants move from learning to their day-to-day and ongoing activities
• accommodations to deliver seamless navigation and access to the course for all learners across different devices, screen sizes, and interaction methods
• inclusive content design to shape language and provide multiple modes of engaging with content to boost learner understanding and engagement with course content

The variable learning model empowers learners to take ownership of their learning journey, enhances motivation, and promotes self-efficacy. Learners can engage in ways that align with their strengths, interests, and learning preferences. The variable learning model transforms education by allowing educators and trainers to reach all learners where they’re at, regardless of needs and circumstances. Flexibility is the future, and the future is now.

Transform your learning outcomes with flexible learning programs and watch learners thrive.

Contact us to discover how we can help you develop flexible and effective eLearning and training programs.

The post The need for flexible online learning models appeared first on Say Yeah!.

This symposium offers the opportunity to take a deeper dive into Universal Design for Learning best practices and consider connections between UDL and education topics like learner empowerment, social justice, and community building. 

The 2023 edition of the CAST UDL Symposium will highlight UDL case studies and explore strategies to make UDL a common and prevalent practice in education. As eLearning innovators dedicated to prioritizing learner variability, we’re excited to share our perspective on practices that complement and advance the goals of UDL.

Catch these exciting talks at the CAST UDL Symposium:

• Cultivating Brave Spaces by Designing from Diverse Perspectives with Nicole Tucker-Smith 
• From Single Vision to Transition Lenses: UDL Is Maturing with Loui Lord Nelson
• UDL at work with James Mckenna
• Empowering Learners and Minimizing Barriers with iPad Accessibility Tools with Tolulope, (Tolu) Noah

Explore the event schedule

Save your seat!

You don’t want to miss this chance to explore the potential benefits of UDL in your higher education and professional learning programs. 

Get tickets for virtual access starting at $399 USD and in-person tickets at $799 USD.

Register today!

Looking to develop and deliver eLearning programs that meet the needs of all your learners?

Using our variable learning model, we can help you deliver flexible and engaging online courses that account for learner diversity and variability.

Get in touch

The post CAST UDL Symposium, July 31-August 1, 2023 appeared first on Say Yeah!.