UDL Strategies to Improve Blackboard Coarse Content

Twenty-Minute UDL Strategies to Improve Blackboard Course Content

1. Create and post goal statements for your module or week:

Example: By the end of this module, you will be able to . . .
Relationship to UDL: Clear, measurable goals make the development of alternative assignments much easier and ensures that the use of UDL “does not alter the rigor of assignments.” (Harrison, 2006)

2. Make and caption a 5-minute “pinch point” video:

Relationship to UDL: A pinch point is an excellent place to begin a retrofit with UDL principles, if for no other reason than to save the professor's effort in the future.” The pinch point will become a starting point for future UDL strategies.

3. Caption an existing short video:

Relationship to the UDL: By adding closed-captioning to television programs, more people can enjoy them: viewers who are learning the language, who want to keep up with unfamiliar accents, or who have hearing impairments.

4. Fix a syllabus to make Ally happy.

5. Provide time estimates for assignments.

6. Add options for recruiting interest.

7. Record an announcement.

8. Expand an assignment option.

9. Ask students how long it took to complete an assignment.

10. Open modules a week earlier than you normally would.

11. Insert directions for downloading Read and Write Gold into your Blackboard Course.

12. Write a 50-minute test and allow all students 2 hours to take it, in the Testing Center.

13. Write a test with 30 questions, but only require 25.

14. Check your Blackboard Accessibility Score.

15. Add descriptive text to 3 images.

16. Add text descriptions to links.

17. Conduct a 5-minute weekly engagement survey in Blackboard:

18. Adjust a test so that students are testing from a pool of test questions.