Being Inclusive is one of the four values that underpin workplace culture at Charles Sturt University. Universal Design for Learning is a teaching philosophy that promotes inclusion by designing education so students with disabilities can access it easily. This will also assist other cohorts of students.
Inclusion is a core value at Charles Sturt University. It promotes a sense of belonging that enhances learning. Research indicates that students who feel they belong are more motivated, confident, engaged and achieve higher academic achievement.
Creating accessible and inclusive learning resources is essential for fostering an equitable educational environment. This document aims to guide academics in developing materials catering to all students' diverse needs. By implementing inclusive design principles and leveraging assistive technologies, academics can ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. This guide will provide practical strategies and best practices to help you create content that is not only accessible but also engaging and effective for a wide range of learners. Academics should integrate these principles into their course design and delivery, ensuring all students can engage meaningfully with the content.
The document outlines practical actions for designing and delivering inclusive learning experiences aligned with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. These actions aim to create a more equitable and supportive environment for all students:
Accessibility and Inclusion Principles
The following tipsheet provides comprehensive guidelines demonstrating the importance of cultivating belonging, offering choice, and setting things out clearly to enhance accessibility and inclusion in educational settings. Key strategies include setting asynchronous preparatory work, using diverse examples, and providing flexible assessment options. It advises using Word documents over PDFs, adding alt-text to images, and providing captions and transcripts for videos. The document also highlights the need for a high-contrast colour scheme and visual cues to aid comprehension. Regular monitoring and re-evaluation of practices are recommended to ensure continuous improvement.