Submit an abstract to worcUDL2024@worc.ac.uk by utilizing the form downloadable below.
Call for Proposals.
We are inviting UDL advocates, allies, practitioners, and experts across a variety of fields to explore more deeply how UDL can be used to improve sustainable and inclusive learning and work environments. We hope to both highlight the promising ways that UDL has already made great progress, potential, and application but equally to draw from research and empirical studies.
To submit an abstract for the conference Power of Potential: Sharing Experiences from Universal
Design for Learning Journey, please reference this file:
Applicants are invited to share their experiences in the following ways:
Traditional presentation
Onsite or Online
An opportunity to showcase your expertise through a verbal presentation with visual aids such as PowerPoint slides or other medium. Presentations will last 20 minutes with 5 minutes of questions. For empirical/ research presentations we suggest structuring your presentation using the following subheadings:
- Background and Objectives
- Methods
- Findings and Discussion
- Conclusion
For non-research-based presentations, we suggest clearly stating what you are sharing in the presentation, why it is important and how this makes a meaningful difference to UDL.
Sharing Best Practice
Onsite Only
This is an opportunity to demonstrate how you incorporate UDL in practice. This is a demonstration of what you do, why you do it and, most importantly, how you do it. This applied option can be designed as you wish, but we suggest clearly stating 1) what the objective of the session is, 2) any frameworks, theories, or underpinnings that embed the practice, and 3) clearly articulating how you are incorporating UDL in practice. This may be done as a narrative overview throughout the session explaining what, why, and how you are incorporating UDL. For example, using sign language as well as verbal instructions in a group project to include D/deaf students.
Sharing best practice sessions will last 20 minutes with 10 minutes of questions. If accepted, we will send a follow-up email asking for a list of equipment, space, etc, that you require to share your practice.
Workshop
Onsite Only
Individuals or groups that wish to deliver a one-hour workshop are asked to have an explicit focus on the development of UDL. This may be sharing and showing best practice that requires more than 20 minutes, a group of culturally diverse delegates sharing their own respective stories of UDL to show how UDL may be applied in different cultural settings, proposing and opening for debate new ways of teaching, assessing, etc, or a presentation of 3-4 different papers that fit the topic.
Storytelling
Onsite Only
A 20-minute dialogic and innovative opportunity for delegates to share stories about their personal or systemic organisational change practise with minimal or no materials. In your abstract, please describe:
- the story you wish to share with delegates as part of a round table discussion,
- why you believe this is important
- questions you believe are important to ask as a result of your story
The storytelling roundtables will be moderated by a chair to ensure all participants have equal opportunity to share their experiences. You may wish to share your story about being disabled/ having a disability and what (does not) work for you in UDL or innovative thoughts and experiences that are not yet at a stage for publishing but are important to share. Colleagues may also wish to share more systems-based approaches to bring about organisational change. In doing so, you may wish to highlight problems and successes you have encountered using UDL and to unpack issues with supportive others.
Poster presentation
Onsite Only
Posters may be designed however delegates desire. This may be traditional poster designs containing all information or a “Poster 2.0” format with an embedded QR code. Why not check out this video on how to create a Poster 2.0? Abstracts for posters are unstructured, but delegates who wish for some direction may wish to consider either the traditional empirical presentation or non-empirical structure outlined above. The poster session will be held on the afternoon of 26th June. Posters will remain available for viewing throughout the conference.
Lightning talks
Onsite Only
The goal of lightning talks is to articulate a topic in a quick, insightful, and clear manner. Averaging between 3 and 5 minutes, this is a good option for delegates who are nervous about presenting. Lightning talks provide an opportunity to share ‘snapshots’ of work within the space of 5 minutes maximum. Delegates may use one PowerPoint slide to support their talk, or one piece of equipment in their lightning talk. Delegates may also use no supporting material if they wish. Abstract submissions may be shorter for this type of presentation. Lightening talk sessions will last for 1 hour, and delegates are encouraged to ensure their talk is 5 minutes maximum.
All abstracts are due by Friday, May 31st, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. GMT (translate to your time zone).