Designing Inclusive Learning Environments at UQ

Course Description

Create learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

This blended series supports your development in designing effective and inclusive learning environments at UQ through self-reflection, foundational knowledge, and practical application grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and UQ’s commitment to inclusive teaching.

The series includes 4 key components: 

1. Online Introduction Workshop (1 hour, live). Start your journey with a facilitated online session that introduces key concepts and sets the stage for reflective and action-oriented learning. 
2. Self-Assessment Diagnostic Tool. Use this online self-assessment to reflect on your current beliefs and practices. This diagnostic is designed to prompt individual insight and identify areas for growth in creating inclusive and accessible learning experiences. 
3. Self-Paced Online Module: Designing Effective and Inclusive Environments at UQ. Engage with this interactive module to explore: 
   1. the diversity of learners in UQ classrooms 
   2. guiding principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 
   3. relevant UQ policies and frameworks 
   4. real-world examples of inclusive practice. 
4. In-Person Constructive Workshop (2 hours, in person). Put your learning into action. Join a facilitated, hands-on workshop where you’ll work collaboratively to implement changes in your own practice. You’ll use UDL as a guiding framework to design more inclusive learning environments tailored to your students’ diverse needs

Outcomes

By the end of this series, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and their alignment with UQ’s Inclusive Teaching Policy and broader institutional commitments to equity and student success.
2. Analyse their current teaching and learning environments to identify barriers to learning and opportunities for increased inclusivity, flexibility, and student engagement.
3. Apply UDL-informed design strategies to create or revise learning activities, assessment tasks, and course materials that provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and action/expression.
4. Use evidence-informed approaches and student-experience data to inform decisions that enhance accessibility, belonging, and participation in their courses.
5. Collaborate with peers to evaluate and refine learning-design choices, drawing on examples of effective inclusive practice from UQ and the broader higher-education sector.
6. Develop an actionable plan for implementing inclusive learning-environment enhancements in their own course or teaching context, including identifying resources, supports, and indicators of success.

Lead Facilitator

Professor Gwen Lawrie, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences

Schedule

Registration

A minimum of five registrations is required for the course to proceed, and registrations are capped at 20 participants.