MU - UDL & U. Building a Culture of Inclusion in Maynooth University
Embedding Universal Design for Learning principles in teaching, learning and assessment practices is an important element of Maynooth University’s commitment to the provision of a more inclusive learning environment and experience for all our students. To support this commitment, CTL awarded four UDL focused T&L Fellowships to Maynooth University colleagues under the HEA PATH 4, Phase 1 - Universal Design for Education Fund. CTL and the UDL Faculty T&L Fellows worked together to develop this hub.
The MU UDL Faculty T&L Fellows for 2023-25 are:
Professor Marian Crowley-Henry, School of Business, Faculty of Social Sciences.
Dr Margaret Flood, Education Department, Faculty of Social Sciences.
Professor Denise Rooney, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Professor Moynagh Sullivan, English Department, Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Philosophy
Maynooth University Centre for Teaching and Learning
ToggleMU: UDL & U Awareness Campaign Spring 2025
CTL in collaboration with the MU UDL Fellows will be running a UDL & U Awareness Campaign from Thursday, 13th February, 2025 - 27th March 2025.
Week 1: 13th February 2025 at 11:00 – 11:30 MU-UDL & U: UDL & U Awareness Raising Campaign, Launch and Pre-Campaign Survey.
This opening session will launch the MU-UDL & U Awareness campaign. CTL in collbaortaion withe the UDL will provide an introduction to UDL and introduce our UDL Fellows.
Each UDL Fellow will give you a taster of what aspect of UDL they will be presenting during the campaign.
You can register here to attend the session.
Week 2: 20th February 2025 at 12:00 – 12:30 “MU-UDL & U: Who in UDL?” with Dr Margaret Flood
In this session we will discuss identity as part of learner variability; the “who” along with the “why” (engagement), the “what” (representation), and the “how” (action and expression). This is one of the key changes to the UDL Guidelines 3.0 which emphasises the value of learner agency, the goal of UDL 3.0. The consideration of “Who” in the new 3.0 guidelines ensures we consider every student rather than focusing on specific cohorts of students.
Dr Margaret Flood, Department of Education, will facilitate this session. You can register here to attend the session.
Week 3: 20th February 2025 at 12:00 – 12:30 MU-UDL & U: Design for Representation with Prof Moynagh Sullivan
In this session we will discuss how to implement UDL into your practice using Multiple Means of Representation, including the Plus-One Approach and other supports.
Multiple Means of Representation and perspectives are used, because they support learners to make connections within, as well as between, concepts. The Plus One approach is a highly effective way to begin to vary modes of representing material, and supports us making small, manageable, incremental changes to our design, delivery and assessment. Examples of UDL Plus Ones are available on the MU CTL webpage here.
Professor Moynagh O Sullivan, Department of English, will facilitate this session.You can register here to attend the session.
Week 4: 6th March 2025 at 12:00 – 12:30 MU-UDL & U: Design for Action & Expression
In this session we will discuss the Action and Expression Principles of UDL. We will highlight the benefits of providing students with equitable opportunities to express their learning. We will discuss the barriers to offering a variety of assessment opportunities from both an educator and student perspective. We provide practical strategies to overcome these challenges and share examples of how these approaches have been successfully implemented.
Professor Denise Rooney, Department of Chemistry, will facilitate this session. You can register here for this session.
Week 5: 27th March 2025 at 12:00 – 12:30 MU-UDL & U: Engagement, Sharing Plus One practice, post-campaign survey launch
In this session we will discuss how we can use UDL to foster engagement in the classroom. Conscious of learner and facilitator variability and of each learner’s/teacher’s distinct intersectional characteristics, different approaches to engagement in the classroom will be considered, which offers a choice to course facilitators and students in relation to how they collaboratively engage with course material. In this final session, we will launch a post-campaign survey and gather feedback from MU staff.
Professor Marian Crowley-Henry (School of Business) will facilitate this session. You can register here to attend this session.
MU: UDL & U. Project Information Comic Strips
UDL - Open Education Resources
In this section of the hub, we present Maynooth University (MU) Creative Commons licenced resources that introduce Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
The resources explain what UDL is, outline the UDL principles and guidelines, argue why UDL matters, sketch advantages and challenges associated with implementing UDL in practice and contextualise UDL in inclusive education more broadly in MU.
We welcome your feedback on these resources.
Positive Outcomes of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Inclusive Education in Maynooth University
What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)? Principles and Guidelines
Please note the Guidelines in the above OER (2.2) have been updated, and the current version (3.0) is available here
What Does the Research Tell us about Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?
Why is Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Important in Maynooth University?
MU - UDL & ME. Insights from UDL Teaching & Learning Fellows
The UDL T&L Fellows 2023-24 are:
Dr Marian Crowley-Henry, School of Business, and Dr Margaret Flood, Education Department, and Faculty of Social Sciences.
Professor Denise Rooney, Chemistry Department and Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Professor Moynagh Sullivan, English Department and Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Philosophy
In this section of our the hub, the UDL Faculty T&L Fellows talk about what UDL means to them.
MU. UDL & ME. Dr Marian Crowley-Henry
MU. UDL & ME. Dr Margaret Flood
MU. UDL & ME. Prof Denise Rooney
MU. UDL & ME. Prof Moynagh Sullivan
UDL - Plus Ones
Plus One approach - UDL in your practice
Reflecting on our practice through the lens of UDL, we can ask ourselves what one change we could make now to make our lessons more inclusive. This is often referred to as the ‘Plus One’ approach.
The Plus One approach is about making small, manageable, incremental changes to our design, delivery and assessment. It builds on what we are already doing. It is not about a whole new re-design.
Plus One changes can include for example, making an option that is currently only available to one/some students available to everyone; sharing your presentation before lectures for students who need to use a screen reader or like to pre-read; removing unnecessary visuals; or offering other modes of assessment in addition to written assignments where appropriate.
Plus One actions are context-dependent. It’s important to remember that a change made in one lesson or year grouping may not work for another, or that what works in Biology will not necessarily translate exactly to English. As educators, we are best placed to understand the varying contexts that apply to our own disciplines and class groups, and to adapt our teaching accordingly.
The links below will bring you to short Plus One guides that have been developed in Maynooth University as part of MU: UDL & U. You may see some overlap or similarity across this collection. This is because some of the Plus Ones are based on practice and hence may include slight adaptations or different perspectives to suit a specific context.
Plus One - Creating an Inclusive Space
Plus One - Design for Choice in Assessment/Action and Expression
Plus One - Diversifying Ways to Participate
Plus One - Using Graphic Books
Plus One - Inviting Students to Share Other Resources
Plus One - Linking Learning Outcomes to Action and Expression
Plus One - Providing Students with Choice of Content
Plus One - Posting lecture/tutorial slides on a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Plus One - Recording Videos of Pre-Lab Talks
Plus One - Recorded Audio Clips
Plus One - Clear Slide Design for Presentations
Plus One - Using Technology for Active Learning
Plus One - Designing Assessment for Inclusiveness
Plus One - Offering Choice for Oral Presentations
Plus One - Offering Varied Participation Opportunities for Inclusivity
Plus One - Providing Explicit Instructions for Inclusivity
Plus One - Using Audio Books and Podcasts