The CTL hosted the Fourth Title III Summer Institute on Aug 23-24 on campus. Twenty-one BCC faculty and staff and one guest from STCC attended the session. Our workshop leader was Dr. Steve Fadden of Landmark Institute. Steve is a wonderful teacher and trainer, as well as a faculty member experienced with a broad range of student learning challenges. He generously shared with us a number of resources concerning the principles of Universal Design for Instruction and the main points of online accessibility. He presented several interactive exercises where faculty were able to develop a real sense of how a college class for student with multiple learning challenges is like “running a marathon in a vat of molasses.”

Steve spent a significant amount of time laying out the case and the methodology for multiple modes of assessment, use of “false deadlines,” and low-stakes exercises. A lively debate threaded through Day 2 concerning the focus on written work as a necessary measure of college-level work versus the need for alternative assessment to fairly assess those with learning or other disabilities who are fully capable of graduating from college.

Below is a list of resources with links to websites and documents.

Some participant comments on the session were:

• [The workshop] demonstrated the challenges students face as learners and [we] experienced them first-hand
• Lots of info – both things that can be implemented right away as well as things to give future consideration to
• I am prepared to alter some of my procedures and strategies as a result of this workshop
• Very nice having this program in the summer before Fall semester. This program enhanced my knowledge and understanding of universal design and disabilities.
• I feel I can serve a larger audience due to the content and approaches offered in this workshop
• [I am} ready to apply UDI to practice in my teaching
• Excellent, knowledgeable, engaging presenter (x6)!!

The CTL is planning at least one follow-up workshop this fall with a focus on the Inspiration concept mapping software. Other sessions are sure to follow. Please click “Comment” on this post to let us know what would be helpful.

Links:

Steve Fadden’s presentation slides:  Faddenslides

Steve Fadden’s handouts and rubrics:  faddenhandouts

Accessibility in Windows 7:  http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/windows7/

Accessibility in Microsoft Office 2010:  http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/office2010/

Inspiration concept mapping software: http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial

The Gray Center (Autism/Asperger’s): http://www.thegraycenter.org/

Steve Fadden’s Delicious links: http://www.delicious.com/sfadden/BCC

Sample syllabus showing use of MS Word “Styles” for accessible headings in pdf Faddensamplesyllabus