UDL in First Year English Courses

Dr. John Kania began with an overview of his career having taught every grade level from Preschool through Graduate School.   He currently teaches introductory English courses and specializes in working with ESL, first-generation students, or any student considered at-risk.  He works on building Executive Function and his adoption of UDL is as a framework for minimizing barriers in the environment to adjust the learning environment to students’ learning needs. He discusses his use of active learning strategies and how to adapt them to a static synchronous learning environment and provides some examples along with the use of videos to review key concepts.  Dr. Kania uses UDL as a tool to assess his lessons as a reflective practitioner. Students find the UDL classroom a safe, accessible, and “easy” place to learn where relationships are built while developing critical thinking that carries students through college and their career whether as nurses or manufacturers. Finally, Dr. Kania proposes that UDL not only minimize barriers in the classroom but provides a way for students to minimize barriers in all aspect of their lives.  

To connect with Dr. John Kania email: [e-mail]

Relevant Resource Links:

Embracing UDL in Higher Education podcast episode

The Journey of UDL Blog