Case-Based Teaching: Supporting Educators’Understanding of UDL

Abstract

How might we support educators to learn about UDL through experiences that are more interactive and learn­er-centered? The Professional Learning Team at CAST is exploring this question through a pilot study that examines the potential of a case-based teaching approach. Partici­pants in the study explore a case of an elementary school wrestling with dilemmas associated with supporting di­verse learners and building an inclusive school communi­ty. Participants assume active roles and immerse them­selves in the real-life challenges presented in the case. In this session, we will collaboratively explore initial find­ings that reveal how participants experienced our case-based approach. We will consider how this approach sup­ports participants to 1) make authentic connections to their own school and classroom contexts, 2) wrestle with their values and beliefs about teaching and learning, and

3) reflect on the conditions that support educators to apply UDL to practice. We will also reflect on the features of case-based teaching that participants reported as being particularly useful or not useful in supporting their learn­ing. We share the refinements that we are making to our case-based approach based on this feedback. Finally, we will explore the implications of our findings, encouraging participants to consider the potential of a case-based teaching approach in their own contexts.