Universal Design for Learning Workshops
UDL is a framework designed to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Choose a session that works for you or sign-up for them all!
Upcoming Sessions
| Date/Time | Session Title | Description | Links/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 14, 2026 1:00 - 1:30 | UDL in Action: Welcoming Interest & Learners' Whole Selves | Engage your learners by welcoming their interests and whole selves into your classroom. In this 30-minute UDL session, we will explore strategies for engaging learners by welcoming their whole selves into our disciplines. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | UDL in Action: Welcoming Interest & Learners' Whole Selves - Session Recording |
| January 16, 2026 1:00 - 1:15 | Setting the Stage: Designing a Clear Start for Students for The Upcoming Semester* | Start your course off right with a clear, welcoming introduction that sets students up for success. This 15-minute session will explore practical ways to design a strong course welcome, organize your homepage, and communicate expectations from day one. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | Setting the Stage: Designing a Clear Start for Students for The Upcoming Semester - Session Recording |
| January 21, 2026 10:00 - 10:15 | Tech with Intention: Choosing the Right Tools for Learning* | Tech should make learning easier, not harder. In this 15-minute session, we’ll explore how to choose the right digital tools that align with your goals, support student success, and keep your course running smoothly. Facilitated by Stacy Muse | Tech with Intention: Choosing the Right Tools for Learning - Session Recording |
| January 22, 2026 10:00 - 10:30 | UDL in Action: Helping with Student Perception | Learners can’t process information when it is imperceptible to them. In this 30-minute UDL session, we will discuss strategies for building options for student perception. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | UDL in Action: Helping with Student Perception - Session Recording |
| January 27, 2026 9:00 - 9:30 | Designing for Every Learner with 4MAT | In this 30-minute session, move beyond “learning styles” and learn how the 4MAT framework supports learner preferences and stages of engagement. Participants explore the four quadrants and rethink an activity for broader reach. Facilitated by John Smoot | Designing for Every Learner with 4MAT - Session Recording |
| January 28, 2026 10:00 - 10:15 | Learning with Intention: Writing Outcomes that Matter* | Make every lesson count with clear, purposeful learning outcomes. In this 15-minute session, we’ll break down how to write meaningful objectives that guide your content, focus your assessments, and help students understand exactly what they’re working toward. Facilitated by Andrew Horne | Learning with Intention: Writing Outcomes that Matter - Session Recording |
| January 28, 2026 1:00 - 1:30 | UDL in Action: Helping Students Interpret Discipline-Specific Jargon | Often, disciplines rely on language and symbols that students may not be familiar with. In this 30-minute UDL session, we will discuss how we can build options for helping students understand discipline-specific language and symbols. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | UDL in Action: Helping Students Interpret Discipline-Specific Jargon - Session Recording |
| February 4, 2026 10:00 - 10:15 | Bridge to Success: Connecting Students to What They Need* | Students shouldn’t have to search high and low for support. This 15-minute session will show you how to seamlessly connect learners to the right campus resources; academic, tech, and beyond. Stick around ‘til the end… we’ve got a helpful surprise to send you off with that just might make your course even stronger. Facilitated by Stacy Muse | Bridge to Success: Connecting Students to What They Need - Session Recording |
| February 4, 2026 1:00 - 1:15 | Checkpoints for Success: Measuring What Matters Most* | How do you know students are really learning? This 15-minute session explores how to create assessments that align with your outcomes, provide meaningful feedback, and give students clear checkpoints on their path to success. Facilitated by Andrew Horne | Checkpoints for Success: Measuring What Matters Most - Session Recording |
| February 5, 2026 10:00 - 10:30 | UDL in Action: Building Knowledge | Knowledge transfer is important to student success, and students need to see how what they are learning today connects with the rest of their education. In this 30-minute UDL session, we will discuss strategies for helping students construct meaning out of what they learn. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | UDL in Action: Building Knowledge - Session Recording |
| February 10, 2026 11:00 - 11:15 | Small, Intentional Ways to Make Students Feel Seen | Discover how small, purposeful gestures, known as micro-affirmations, can have a powerful impact on student engagement and sense of belonging. In this session, you'll explore how acts of recognition, encouragement, and inclusion foster a more supportive learning environment. You'll leave with practical strategies you can start using right away to help students feel seen, valued, and connected. Facilitated by Stacy Muse | Small, Intentional Ways to Make Students Feel Seen - Session Recording |
| February 10, 2026 3:00 - 4:00 | Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum | Looking to make your writing assignments more effective for a wide range of learners? his workshop offers practical strategies for designing writing assignments that provide flexibility, clear structure, and multiple ways for students to engage and demonstrate their learning. Learn how to reduce common barriers and build writing tasks that help all students stay motivated, confident, and successful. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Elizabeth Gange’ | Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum - Session Recording |
| February 11, 2026 1:00 - 1:30 | UDL in Action: Sustaining Effort and Persistence | Student engagement can begin to dip as the semester progresses. In this 30-minute UDL session, we will discuss strategies for sustaining student effort and persistence throughout the semester. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | Register for UDL in Action: Sustaining Effort and Persistence Join UDL in Action: Sustaining Effort and Persistence |
| February 18, 2026 10:30 - 11:15 | Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 1: Cooking Up Prompts That Stick | Part 1 of a two-part series—but also fully effective on its own. In 45 minutes, learn how to clarify purpose, design engaging prompts, explore prompt structures, and build rubrics that guide meaningful, higher-quality discussion. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 1: Cooking Up Prompts That Stick Join Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 1: Cooking Up Prompts That Stick |
| February 19, 2026 10:00 - 10:30 | UDL in Action: Understanding Emotional Capacity | Help foster a sense of belonging for your students as an engagement tactic. In this 30-minute UDL session, we will discuss ways to create belonging and better understand our students’ emotional capacities. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | Register for UDL in Action: Understanding Emotional Capacity Join UDL in Action: Understanding Emotional Capacity |
| February 20, 2026 11:00 - 11:30 | Designing for Every Learner with 4MAT | In this 30-minute session, move beyond “learning styles” and learn how the 4MAT framework supports learner preferences and stages of engagement. Participants explore the four quadrants and rethink an activity for broader reach. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Designing for Every Learner with 4MAT Join Designing for Every Learner with 4MAT |
| February 26, 2026 11:00 - 11:15 | From Resources to Results: Choosing the Right Materials* | Great courses start with great content. This 15-minute session will show you how to select and structure materials that are easy to access, clearly connected to your objectives, and meaningful to your learners. Facilitated by Andrew Horne | Register for From Resources to Results: Choosing the Right Materials Join From Resources to Results: Choosing the Right Materials |
| February 26, 2026 1:00 - 1:45 | Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 2: Keeping the Conversation Alive | Part 2 of the series—but works perfectly as a stand-alone session. This 45-minute session goes beyond grading posts to explore the role of the facilitator, how to keep momentum, and strategies for reviving a discussion that has stalled. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 2: Keeping the Conversation Alive Join Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 2: Keeping the Conversation Alive |
| March 18, 2026 9:00 - 9:30 | Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Flexible Assessment Design | This practical 30-minute session shows how to offer students choice—through formats, topics, or mediums—while still keeping outcomes and expectations crystal clear. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Flexible Assessment Design Join Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Flexible Assessment Design |
| March 23, 2026 1:00 - 1:15 | From Passive to Active: Learning that Sparks Participation to the Asynchronous Classroom* | Ready to turn “click-through” courses into meaningful learning experiences? This 15-minute session explores simple strategies to design engaging activities that get students thinking, participating, and connecting, even in asynchronous spaces. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | Register for From Passive to Active: Learning that Sparks Participation to the Asynchronous Classroom Join From Passive to Active: Learning that Sparks Participation to the Asynchronous Classroom |
| March 24, 2026 10:00 - 10:30 | Make it Stick: Teaching for Long-Term Learning | In this 30-minute session, learn how to help students move knowledge from short-term to long-term memory by combining learning science with Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience to shift from passive to active learning. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Make it Stick: Teaching for Long-Term Learning Join Make it Stick: Teaching for Long-Term Learning |
| March 24, 2026 11:00 - 11:15 | Small, Intentional Ways to Make Students Feel Seen | Discover how small, purposeful gestures, known as micro-affirmations, can have a powerful impact on student engagement and sense of belonging. In this session, you'll explore how acts of recognition, encouragement, and inclusion foster a more supportive learning environment. You'll leave with practical strategies you can start using right away to help students feel seen, valued, and connected. Facilitated by Stacy Muse | Register for Small, Intentional Ways to Make Students Feel Seen Join Small, Intentional Ways to Make Students Feel Seen |
| April 2, 2026 10:00 - 10:30 | Make it Stick: Teaching for Long-Term Learning | In this 30-minute session, learn how to help students move knowledge from short-term to long-term memory by combining learning science with Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience to shift from passive to active learning. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Make it Stick: Teaching for Long-Term Learning Join Make it Stick: Teaching for Long-Term Learning |
| April 7, 2026 11:00 - 11:30 | Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Flexible Assessment Design | This practical 30-minute session shows how to offer students choice—through formats, topics, or mediums—while still keeping outcomes and expectations crystal clear. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Flexible Assessment Design Join Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Flexible Assessment Design |
| April 8, 2026 9:30 - 10:15 | Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 1: Cooking Up Prompts That Stick | Part 1 of a two-part series—but also fully effective on its own. In 45 minutes, learn how to clarify purpose, design engaging prompts, explore prompt structures, and build rubrics that guide meaningful, higher-quality discussion. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 1: Cooking Up Prompts That Stick Join Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 1: Cooking Up Prompts That Stick |
| April 20, 2026 11:00 - 11:45 | Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 2: Keeping the Conversation Alive | Part 2 of the series—but works perfectly as a stand-alone session. This 45-minute session goes beyond grading posts to explore the role of the facilitator, how to keep momentum, and strategies for reviving a discussion that has stalled. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 2: Keeping the Conversation Alive Join Breaking Bad Discussion Boards, Part 2: Keeping the Conversation Alive |
Fall 2025 |
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| September 2, 2025 1:30 - 1:45 | Tech with Intention: Choosing the Right Tools for Learning | Tech should make learning easier, not harder. In this session, we’ll explore how to choose the right digital tools that align with your goals, support student success, and keep your course running smoothly. Facilitated by Stacy Muse | Tech with Intention: Choosing the Right Tools for Learning Session Recording |
| September 11, 2025 3:00 - 4:00 | Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum | Looking to make your writing assignments more effective for a wide range of learners? his workshop offers practical strategies for designing writing assignments that provide flexibility, clear structure, and multiple ways for students to engage and demonstrate their learning. Learn how to reduce common barriers and build writing tasks that help all students stay motivated, confident, and successful. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Elizabeth Gange’ | Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum - Session Recording |
| September 17, 2025 3:00 - 4:00 | Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact | Effective assignment design plays a crucial role in student success, yet too often, students are left to decipher expectations with minimal guidance. This workshop explores how transparent assignment design can enhance student engagement, performance, and confidence by providing clear expectations and purposeful structure. Participants will learn about the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework, see how other ECU faculty have used it in their writing classrooms, and consider how it could be applied in their writing instruction. By articulating the purpose, task, and criteria for success, instructors can improve communication and foster deeper learning. Join us to explore strategies for designing assignments that clarify expectations while empowering all students to take ownership of their writing. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh | Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact - Session Recording |
| September 25, 2025 10:00 - 10:30 | UDL in Action: Sustaining Effort and Persistence | Student engagement can begin to dip as the semester progresses. In this UDL session, we will discuss strategies for sustaining student effort and persistence throughout the semester. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | UDL in Action: Sustaining Effort and Persistence - Session Recording |
| October 2, 2025 10:00 - 10:30 | UDL in Action: Understanding Emotional Capacity | Help foster a sense of belonging for your students as an engagement tactic. In this UDL session, we will discuss ways to create belonging and better understand our students’ emotional capacities. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | UDL in Action: Understanding Emotional Capacity - Session Recording |
| October 2, 2025 1:30 - 1:45 | Checkpoints for Success: Measuring What Matters Most | How do you know students are really learning? This session explores how to create assessments that align with your outcomes, provide meaningful feedback, and give students clear checkpoints on their path to success. Facilitated by Andrew Horne | Checkpoints for Success: Measuring What Matters Most - Session Recording |
| October 21, 2025 1:30 - 1:45 | From Resources to Results: Choosing the Right Materials | Great courses start with great content. This session will show you how to select and structure materials that are easy to access, clearly connected to your objectives, and meaningful to your learners. Facilitated by Andrew Horne | From Resources to Results: Choosing the Right Materials - Session Recording |
| October 29, 2025 1:30 - 1:45 | From Passive to Active: Learning that Sparks Participation to the Asynchronous Classroom * | Ready to turn “click-through” courses into meaningful learning experiences? This session explores simple strategies to design engaging activities that get students thinking, participating, and connecting, even in asynchronous spaces. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | From Passive to Active: Learning that Sparks Participation to the Asynchronous Classroom - Session Recording |
| November 13, 2025 1:30 – 1:45 | Setting the Stage: Designing a Clear Start for Students for The Upcoming Semester * | Start your course off right with a clear, welcoming introduction that sets students up for success. This session will explore practical ways to design a strong course welcome, organize your homepage, and communicate expectations from day one. Facilitated by Justin Littlefield | Setting the Stage: Designing a Clear Start for Students for The Upcoming Semester - Session Recording |
| November 18, 2025 1:30 – 1:45 | Bridge to Success: Connecting Students to What They Need | Students shouldn’t have to search high and low for support. This session will show you how to seamlessly connect learners to the right campus resources; academic, tech, and beyond. Stick around ‘til the end… we’ve got a helpful surprise to send you off with that just might make your course even stronger. Facilitated by Stacy Muse | Bridge to Success: Connecting Students to What They Need - Session Recording |
*(DE) This session is aligned with the ECU Distance Education Continuing Education Requirement
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact ECU’s ADA coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu.