2025 UniSA/AAUT Teaching and Learning Breakfast Series

Using Universal Design for Learning principles and evidence-based strategies to build academics’ capacities to enhance initial teacher education student engagement and retention in online learning

PRESENTERS: The Commencing Student Success Project Team (University of New England)

·         Mr Tim Bartlett-Taylor

·         A/Prof Ingrid Harrington

·         Dr Robert Whannel

·         Mr Stephen Grono

·         Dr Kristy O’Neill

·         Dr Cat Volpe Johnston

·         A/Prof Rachael Adlington

·         Mr Marc Mellors

ABSTRACT: This presentation highlights the importance of utilising innovative teaching strategies that motivate and engage students in their university studies. The Commencing Student Success Project (CSSP) was implemented across all units in the School of Education, University of New England (UNE), from 2020. Being the first university established outside of a capital city, over 80% of UNE students study online, with many coming from equity backgrounds. Research demonstrates that students engaged in online university study are more likely to attrit or disengage, particularly if lacking adequate supports (Fan et al., 2023). A similar reality was echoed at UNE, and the CSSP was a proactive response to addressing this issue. Based on a teaching philosophy of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) (Meyer et al., 2014) and its three inclusive principles, the CSSP team prioritised Engagement (student interest and motivation), Representation (of ideas and content), and Action and Expression (of student knowledge). These UDL principles were aligned with andragogical best practice including Knowle’s (1975) adult theory of Self-Directed Learning (SDL). This was reflected through 13 evidence-based practical teaching strategies. Staff and student feedback were integral to the successful implementation of the CSSP across the School. The CSSP emphasises the need for educators at Australian universities to adopt a unified approach to implementing universal Learning Management System (LMS) design approaches, in order to enhance student retention, success, and overall satisfaction.

BIO: The Commencing Student Success Project (CSSP) is an innovative research and development project that started in the School of Education (SoE) mid-2019. The team, led by Associate Professor Ingrid Harrington, have been working closely with SoE Education developers and Unit Coordinators (UC) to disseminate 14 evidence-based core pedagogical strategies and innovations known as the 'Basic Elements' (BE), consistently within and across all first year units.

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