WATTLE Forum
About the forum
This year’s WATTLE mid-year forum, Access and Inclusion—UOW for All, features three exciting online events over three days, exploring how to make learning more inclusive and accessible to all learners. The three days will serve as a jumping off point for further discussion about how we can make learning and teaching at UOW more inclusive and accessible to all students, including understanding the context and why access and inclusion are of importance, technological tools that can help make your online materials more accessible and adaptable to student needs, and strategies that you can use to make your teaching more inclusive.
20 July 2021 12.00 - 2.00 pm AEST
Designing Online Learning Environments That Work for All Students
Dr Erin Leif, Dr Laura Alfrey, Dr Christine Grove, & Professor Umesh Sharma, Monash University
The number of students in with disabilities in higher education has continued to increase proportionately across the Western world, including Australia. However, these students are less likely to complete their studies than their non-disabled peers and, if they graduate, are less likely to engage in meaningful and competitive employment. Once way to support inclusion and participation of students with disabilities is by incorporating the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into online learning design. In principle, UDL is designed to make coursework easier for everyone to access. Our presenters will provide recommendations for proactively designing online learning environments that meet the needs of diverse learners, including students with disabilities, using the principles of UDL in practice.
Student Panel: What Works and What Doesn’t for Students
UOW students provide their perspectives on what access and inclusion means to them and the practices that they have found effective in supporting their learning.
21 July 2021 12.00 - 1.00 pm AEST
Blackboard Ally: Supporting Diverse 21st Century Learners and Universal Design for Learning
Mark Bailye, OpenLMS
To support diverse learners and the aspirations of Universal Design for Learning, Blackboard Ally is tool to help achieve these ends. This presentation will highlight the ways in which Blackboard Ally as a tool can be used to support teaching staff providing accessibility, usability and flexibility for learners.
22 July 2021 12.00 - 1.00 pm AEST
WATTLE Connect & Create: Teach and Tell—Strategies for UDL
This interactive session invites participants to collaborate and share their teaching strategies for working with diverse learners and creating a more inclusive learning environment.
About the presenters
Dr Laura Alfrey,
Monash University
Laura is currently Course Leader for the Bachelor of Education (Health and Physical Education) within the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Laura's research focuses on Health and Physical education (HPE), sport and physical activity contexts, and the ways which policy, professional learning and practice contribute to inclusive and educative experiences for young people.
Mark Bailye,
OpenLMS
Mark has almost 20 years’ experience, spearheading and championing the use of technology enhanced learning to improve the learning and teaching experience in the Higher Education, VET, K-12, and corporate sectors, both nationally and internationally. He is thought leader, trusted adviser and learning designer who is passionate about transforming lives through the effective use of technology-enhanced learning.
Dr Christine Grove,
Monash University
Christine is an Educational & Developmental Psychologist, Fulbright Scholar & Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. At the cornerstone of her research and teaching is the inclusion of students in their education using co-designed participatory approaches. She was recently awarded the Dean's Learning and Teaching Innovation Award (2020) for transforming pre-service teacher capability to teach in inclusive classrooms.
Dr Erin Leif,
Monash University
Erin is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. Erin’s research involves the exploration of strategies for building the capability of educators to deliver inclusive instructional practices. She has a special interest in evaluating strategies for designing inclusive and engaging online learning spaces. Erin has incorporated the principles of Universal Design for Learning into her own teaching for the past several years. Recently, she was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Citation for outstanding contribution to student learning, and the Monash Graduate Association Lecturer of the Year award.
Professor Umesh Sharma,
Monash University
Umesh is Associate Dean (Equity, and Inclusion) in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. Umesh’s research programs in the area of disability and inclusive education span India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa as well as Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand. He has conducted several award-winning national and international projects on topics like Funding of education for students with disability for the Commonwealth of Australia, the Development of Personalised and Support Guidelines for the Victorian Government, and the development of the National Policy on Inclusive Education for the Solomon Islands.