Workshop Description:

This workshop introduces Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for online teaching. Teachers will be introduced to the benefits of online teaching for students with learning difficulties in an inclusive setting. They will share successes and challenges of their online teaching experiences and will elaborate on lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through group discussions, teachers will explore the basic principles of UDL and how they can be applied to support the learning of their students. They will identify critical elements for UDL aligned lesson plans. Teachers will determine ways of mitigating barriers in online learning according to learners’ variability.

Teachers will discuss multiple means of engagement, representation and expression as they will explore ways to incorporate UDL principles in design of instructional materials for online teaching. Particularly, they will learn how to design interactive PowerPoint presentations in terms of form (text, font, color, space on slide, headings, images, sound), in addition to recommendations regarding adaptations (such as breaking the content into smaller units, adjusting length of online session, and offering choices).

As a final point, teachers will self-evaluate their knowledge of UDL and reflect on its practical implementation.

Presenters: Dr. Reem Nashabe Mouawad & Dr. Rola Shukri Balaa

Dr. Reem N. Mouawad is the chairperson and school principal at Step Together Association. She is also a lecturer in special education at the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Dr. Mouawad is an international expert in special education. She is the author of the Arabic book “The different child”.

Dr. Rola Shukri Balaa is a lecturer in special education at the American University of Beirut. She is also an Educational Psychologist. Dr. Balaa is one of the first special education teachers in Lebanon to work in inclusive schools with children with special needs. She has adapted the Brigance school readiness screening measure to the Arab culture. She has served as a consultant for many governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Primary Audience for the workshop: Elementary classroom teachers, special education teachers, educational coordinators.