2024 Professional Development Days The annual “Professional Development Day” (also known as Faculty...
From QM to UDL: A Practical Guide to Enhancing Online Course Design
On November 13, 2024, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at WKU hosted a faculty workshop focused on Quality Matters (QM) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
"Inclusive and Effective Online Course Design on Canvas" Workshop
During the event, Dr. Yvonne Tiandem-Adamou and Dr. Jingyuan Fu shared the latest educational insights on Effective Online Course Design —anchored in Quality Matters (QM) standards and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines to ensure high-quality course design that is inclusive and accessible to all instructors. They also explored the integration of advanced technologies, including learning management systems, collaborative tools, and online resources, to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Two Presenters Dr. Fu (on the left) Dr. Yvonne Tiandem-Adamou (on the right)
During the workshop, participants exchanged contact information, teaching experiences, and research insights, fostering a collaborative and supportive academic environment. They also expressed strong interest in the work of the CTL and discussed the potential for collaborating on future workshops.
QM, UDL and Course Accessibility
To ensure an inclusive and accessible learning experience, it is crucial to understand two key concepts: Quality Matters (QM) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
What is QM ?
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Definition: A peer-reviewed process designed to ensure the quality and effectiveness of online courses.
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Mission: Improve course design to enhance student learning and engagement.
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QM Impact: Over 1,200 institutions globally use QM.
What is UDL?
UDL is a framework that addresses learner variability and reduces barriers through the incorporation of flexibility within course design and curriculum. (The Center for Applied Special Technology).
Introduction Video for UDL
Below are some resources to help you explore QM and UDL in greater depth.
- Quality Matters Homepage: Provides an introduction to QM tools and resources, as well as how to begin creating a culture of continuous improvement.
- Curated Resources | Quality Matters: Offers research and resources related to QM, including case studies, articles, and conference presentations.
Both QM and UDL can significantly enhance course access by promoting well-structured, flexible, and learner-centered designs that address diverse needs. This focus on access naturally leads us to consider the broader concept of accessibility and its role in education.
What is Accessibility?
Accessibility means designing learning without barriers so that students of all abilities can fully participate. This involves making digital content usable for everyone, supporting students with cognitive, sensory, and physical differences, and creating an inclusive environment for those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Examples include providing content in multiple formats, captioning videos, and allowing flexibility in deadlines and attendance policies.
AI & Accessibility: Some recommendations from CTL
With the growing integration of AI technologies in teaching and learning, it is crucial to address the principles of AI accessibility to ensure these tools serve diverse learner populations effectively. This focus on accessibility to AI aligns with broader efforts to reduce barriers in education and enhance universal participation in digital learning environments. Here are some recommendations on AI accessibility from CTL to help ensure inclusivity in your teaching practices.
1. Design with Universal Accessibility in Mind:
Ensure the AI tools or AI generated content you integrate into your teaching adhere to established accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This includes features like screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and adjustable text size. Select AI tools that support multiple languages, including sign languages, and offer subtitles or transcripts for audio-visual content to accommodate diverse learners.
2. Leverage AI to Enhance Accessibility Features:
Use AI tools to provide real-time captions, translations, or audio descriptions for video and audio materials in your courses. Consider implementing adaptive learning activities powered by AI that adjust content delivery to match each learner’s pace and preferences, creating a more personalized and accessible learning experience.
3. Test with Diverse Student Groups:
When adopting new AI tools, involve students with diverse abilities and backgrounds in usability testing to identify potential accessibility barriers, and address them proactively. Solicit regular feedback from students to refine how you implement these tools and ensure they meet accessibility and inclusivity needs.
4. Ensure Privacy and Security for All Users:
Protect sensitive student data when using AI tools and avoid invasive data collection practices, particularly for students who rely on assistive technologies. Clearly communicate how data collected by AI tools will be used and ensure that students’ privacy is respected.
To better facilitate the integration of AI into teaching, we are conducting this survey to explore potential collaborations and services. We sincerely hope that you can take the time (within one minute) to participate in our questionnaire survey. Your opinion is very important to us! Thank you for your participation and support!
You can scan the QR code or click here.
Upcoming International Conferences for Educators: Three major international academic conferences will be held at the same time and place
The 26th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED), the 18th International Conference on Educational Data Mining (EDM), and the 11th ACM Learning @ Scale Conference (L@S) will be held in Italy from July 20 to July 26, 2025.
AIED, EDM, and L@S are the three major academic conferences in education and artificial intelligence, covering different research focuses. Since its establishment in the last century, the AIED conference has become a core academic exchange platform in interdisciplinary research between education and artificial intelligence. Many cutting-edge academic achievements have been published at this conference, and it is also a Class A conference in the international computer field. EDM is a top academic conference in educational data mining, focusing on in-depth mining and analysis of educational big data. L@S focuses on related research on large-scale learning in the era of artificial intelligence and explores how to promote large-scale educational innovation through technology. The three significant conferences have always adhered to strict academic standards. For example, the acceptance rate of long papers at the 2024 AIED conference is about 15%.
To read more information, please click on the webite links below.
AIED:https://www.wku.edu.cn/en/node/5096
EDM:https://www.wku.edu.cn/en/node/5097
L@S:https://www.wku.edu.cn/en/node/5098
To read our previous newsletters, please visit our official website: https://www.wku.edu.cn/en/taxonomy/term/687
References:
Helping you deliver on your online promise. Home | Quality Matters. (n.d.). https://www.qualitymatters.org/
AI & Accessibility | Center for Teaching Innovation. (n.d.-a). https://teaching.cornell.edu/generative-artificial-intelligence/ai-accessibility
YouTube. (n.d.-a). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHUgdrvqVuo
Author: Duo (Dolories) Liu
Chief Editor: Yirui (Sandy) Jiang