ADCET UDL Symposium: Implementing innovative and effective UDL 3.0 in your classroom - a collaborative workshop
In-person workshop
The revised Universal Design for Learning (UDL 3.0) framework was developed from current research in neuroscience and educational equity, as well as feedback from practitioners (CAST, 2025). It places the ‘who’ at the centre of the existing ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ principles. This approach promotes a shift from teacher-centred to student-centred language, emphasising learner agency and identity. There is good evidence to support pedagogies such as UDL enhance students' sense of belonging (Crawford et al, 2023), which is key to improved retention and completion rates. With an increasingly diverse student cohort in higher education, it is more important than ever for educators to consider just who is in their classroom - and incorporate UDL 3.0 principles into their practice.
A case study demonstrating UDL 3.0 ‘in action’, in higher education was presented at the workshop. This case study featured how a learning assignment in an animal science course harnesses the power of UDL 3.0 to optimise student engagement, providing an accessible learning experience that caters for student diversity. Incorporating traditional UDL principles of Engagement, Representation and Action and Expression, the assignment reinforces enhancement of each principle with the student at the centre. The case study uses a student partnership approach to further enhance student agency, motivation and learning outcomes (Zarandi et al 2022). Whilst the subject matter is discipline specific, the workshop focused on how a UDL 3.0 teaching approach can be adapted across professional and vocational learning contexts.
Workshop participants collaborated to analyse the case study and benchmark it to UDL 3.0 principles, then considered how this updated pedagogy could be implemented to improve student engagement in their own classrooms. The ‘take home message’ was that any enhancement, no matter how small, has the potential to improve the student experience and nurture better learning outcomes.
Presenters
Adjunct A/Prof Cathy Snelling has been involved in higher education for more than 30 years and currently is a Principal Consultant, Course Development at Skills SA. After a 20-year tenure at the University of Adelaide, she is now an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Science. Cathy was also a visiting lecturer at TAFE SA (1993-2017) and holds Senior Fellowship at the Higher Education Academy, (UK). Cathy’s teaching expertise has been acknowledged by many awards including a National Award for University Teaching (2013), Australian Awards for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2013, 2017).
Dr Hayley McGrice is the Associate Dean Learning Quality and Student Experience in the Faculty of Science Engineering and Technology and leads the Empowered Educators professional development program at the University of Adelaide. Hayley is passionate about improving the student experience through reflective practice, facilitating continuing professional development workshops , inclusion of students as partners and actively listening to the student voice at all levels of university operations and governance. Hayley was recognised for her outstanding leadership and practice in 2023 when she received a Stephen Cole the Elder Award for excellence in the leadership, support and enhancement of teaching.
A/Prof Beth Loveys is an Education Specialist & member of the Adelaide Education Academy at The University of Adelaide. She holds several leadership positions at the University & is a Senior Fellow HEA (UK). Beth’s success has been recognised by: Office of Learning and Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, SA Science STEM Educator finalist, Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence & Vice Chancellors and Presidents Award for Excellence & the Australian Awards for University Teaching. Beth’s research interests are broad, but unified by a desire to better understand what motivates students learning and leads to improved learning outcomes.
Dr Sasha Lanyon is Lecturer in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences at The University of Adelaide. She is a passionate and innovative educator whose student-centred approach has been recognised by Executive Dean’s Awards for Excellence in Individual Teaching and Outstanding Excellence in Teaching, as well as numerous student-led teaching awards. Sasha’s professional practice has also been recognised with fellowship of Advance HE. Sasha supports and influences her colleagues through shared practice, facilitation of communities of practice, and involvement in institutional initiatives.
(June 2025)