LEAP Indiana is hosting a speaker series during the 2024-25 academic year. Hear from nationally recognized higher education teachers and scholars.
Neurodiversity & UDL: A Friendship Worth Fostering
Sarah Silverman
Friday, January 24, 2025
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST)
Zoom
Neurodiversity and Universal Design for Learning are often mentioned alongside each other in higher education - but what is the connection between the two? Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework used to design learning that is accessible to the greatest number of students with less need for individual accommodations, while neurodiversity describes the variation that naturally exists in human cognition. Neurodiversity as a framework and UDL have several major points of agreement. The first is that there is no average or standard regarding cognition and learning. UDL frames this in terms of there being no “average learner,” instead focusing on “learner variability." The Neurodiversity paradigm introduced by Nick Walker suggests that “There is no ‘normal’ or ‘right’ style of the human mind, any more than there is one ‘normal’ or ‘right’ ethnicity, gender, or culture,” although some cognitive styles are more marginalized in society than others. Neurodiversity theory and UDL both endeavor to break down this “myth” of normality.
The first part of this workshop will offer participants a tour through the histories of both the neurodiversity and UDL concepts. Then, we will clarify the areas of overlap between Neurodiversity theory and UDL, and where these two frameworks may disagree or diverge. We will discuss ways in which neurodiversity theory and activism may help to inform and shape the implementation of the UDL to support neurodivergent students, with a specific focus on how communication differences can be respected and honored using UDL. The second part of the workshop will offer participants an opportunity to consider three elements of course design that can benefit from a neurodiversity perspective: the disability accommodations statement, class participation guidelines, and framing for collaborative group activities.
Sarah E. Silverman is an educator and independent faculty developer focusing on neurodiversity, disability studies, and inclusive instructional design. She teaches Women’s Studies and Disability Studies at the University of Michigan, Dearborn and Goodwin University. Dr. Silverman is currently working on a book project titled An Introduction to Neurodiversity for Educators as part of the Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Ed series published by the University of Oklahoma Press.
Register in advance for this event:
https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/OSVlVDPlTcesS_P8GRAmjg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Future LEAP Indiana Speaker Series Events
Teaching Students and Not Just ‘Subjects’
Bryan Dewsbury
Friday, February 14, 2025
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST)
Zoom
In this session we will focus on what teaching humans entails, including the approaches, curriculum decisions, and strategies that cultivate intrinsic motivation. These strategies, if fully engaged in, allow us to bring out the best out of our diverse classrooms. Mechanisms for non-cognitive assessment will also be discussed.
Dr. Bryan Dewsbury is an Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Director of the STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University. He is the Principal Investigator of the Science Education and Society (SEAS) research program, a team blending research on the social context of teaching and learning, faculty development of inclusive practices, and programming to cultivate equity in education. Dr. Dewsbury is a Fellow with the John N. Gardner Institute, where he assists institutions of higher education cultivate best practices in inclusive education. Also, he is one of the co-authors of The Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching.
Register in advance for this event:
https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/CBpbhLKpTKiRKVSWbWBb9A
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.