ATU UDL Conference 2024 in Collaboration with The John Kelly Awards

Dr Niamh Plunkett, Head of Teaching & Learning at ATU Sligo:

We are incredibly honoured to host the John Kelly Awards in UDL as part of this year’s conference, especially as Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is the inaugural winner of the Collaborative Award. A very warm welcome to all our award nominees, both in the individual and collaborative categories. Your work exemplifies the transformative power of UDL, and we are thrilled to celebrate your achievements today.

Our morning session will feature a thought-provoking panel discussion, exploring the “practicalities of embedding UDL/UD”. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to participate in four exciting workshops, each designed to offer hands-on experience. We encourage you to attend two of these sessions and discover new ways to bring UDL into your classrooms and beyond.

The John Kelly Awards for Universal Design celebrate individuals and organisations who are engaging in innovative practice using the Universal Design for Learning framework and delivering a more inclusive learning experience for their learners across the Irish tertiary landscape. The Awards are a collaboration between UCD and AHEAD, and are named after the late Professor John Kelly, former Registrar of UCD and founding Chair of AHEAD in recognition of his pioneering work. In 1988, Professor Kelly led a movement which addressed the challenges facing students with disabilities in UCD. This developed into the founding of AHEAD and he remained central to the organisation as Chair of the Board of AHEAD until 2005.

Finalists for 2024

Individual Finalists

• Barry Ryan - Technological University Dublin
• Caroline Brennan - Dublin & Dun Laoghaire ETB
• Dorothy Byrne - Kerry ETB
• Mutahira Lone - University College Cork

Collaborative Finalists

• City of Dublin ETB
• Cork ETB
• Munster Technological University

"Implementing the ALTITUDE Charter – Practical Approaches to Universal Design in Tertiary Education"

This panel will dive into the real-world application of the ALTITUDE Charter, Ireland's National Charter in Universal Design for Tertiary Education. The practicalities of embedding universal design principles across educational institutions, discussing both the challenges and the achievements encountered along the way will be explored. Moderated by Maureen Haran (ATU), our panel includes Assoc. Professor Jean Reale (MIC), Charles Gorney (Donegal ETB), Gerard O’Carroll (MTU), and Deborah Ryan (Tipperary ETB). These colleagues will share their experiences and insights on how the Charter can be implemented to create more inclusive, accessible learning environments. This session is a must for educators, policymakers, and administrators interested in learning actionable strategies for advancing universal design in higher education.

I. Unlocking Inclusion: Using the Universal Design Toolkit to implement ALTITUDE

Facilitators: Dr Lisa Padden & Daniel Elliott

This practical workshop will give attendees hands on experience for using the redeveloped Toolkit in a workshop format to create dialogue and action planning to implement the ALTITUDE charter. Using statements from across the four pillars, participants will work in groups to share examples of good practice and suggest possible actions. This workshop can be used as a blueprint for HEIs and ETBs.

II. Structuring Learning Content Through Graphic Facilitation: Container Templates

Facilitators: Dr Tamsin Cavaliero & Jennifer Gilligan

This fun packed hour-long creative workshop will provide participants with:A basic understanding of graphic facilitation and how it can be used to underpin UDL principles. Throughout the workshop you will be introduced to container templates and how they can be used to structure learning content and chunk information.Participants will then be invited to create their own bespoke template that they can use in their own work practices. All materials will be provided. No, previous drawing experience necessary. Participants will be provided with a reusable takeaway template guide.

III. Making learning fun!!! Rediscovering the basics: Integrating Lego and childhood creativity in a universal approach to imaginative teaching and learning in HE and FE.

Facilitators: Dr Mary Heneghan & Dr Eva Campion

This workshop focuses on enhancing your teaching practice to increase student engagement by reigniting childhood playfulness and creativity. Lego creative play in student learning will be demonstrated. The workshop will also incorporate a variety of affordable art and craft materials (e.g. pipe cleaners, lollipop sticks, buttons) that can be easily adapted to different class sizes. Participants will complete an activity that is currently delivered to second-year undergraduate students. In addition, interactive displays showcasing several teaching resources will be available for hands-on exploration. Our aim is that participants will leave the workshop inspired to develop and implement their own creative and playful teaching resources.

IV.Begin as you mean to go on: Programme Design with UDL

Facilitators: Dr Seán Daffy & Mairead McCann

This workshop introduces and provides programme mapping resources to help teams integrate and embed UDL principles into programmes from the earliest stage. These resources facilitate a broad overview of programmes and map where and when modules contribute to Programme Outcomes – introducing, developing and assessing them – semester by semester. Team members are encouraged to align and implement UDL approaches with programme outcomes, and also see when and how modules touch on common outcomes, opening possibilities for collaboration, cross-module assessment and reinforcement.

Host or Publisher Teaching & Learning Centre, ATU Sligo