Workshop: Enhance learner agency by implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

A sharing of best practices in UDL

Our student body marks a vibrant diversity of interests, abilities, and needs. By embracing these differences, we have the opportunity to shape an educational experience that allows every student to thrive through learner agency.  

Together, we will explore the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which aims to cultivate purposeful, authentic, as well as action-oriented learner agency. Grounded in three powerful pillars—Engagement, Representation, and Action and Expression—this Continuous Professional Development session invites us to dive deep into the UDL framework reflect on our current practices that resonate with UDL guidelines, and share our ideas. Participants will leave this session with renewed inspiration to make UDL+1 adjustments, encouraging them to implement one new UDL feature in their next course cycle. 

To foster a rich and meaningful conversation, we encourage all participants to come with a basic understanding of UDL. If you are new to UDL, please take a moment to visit the UDL Canvas module before our session. 

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

• Have an understanding of how UDL can enhance learner agency, 
• Have identified in which ways their education already meets UDL standards,
• Have acquired inspiration for implementing UDL+1. 

This activity may count towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) if relevant to your situation.

About the trainer
Iris Burks is a programme manager of UM Student Guidance at SSC and EDLAB, focusing on uniting the UM guidance community for future-oriented initiatives. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and guiding students in Maastricht’s Liberal Arts and Sciences programmes, she is passionate about innovative student-centred learning. Iris enjoys using engaging teaching methods and games to elicit authentic conversations and sustainable change.