Glossary
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Having equitable access to resources and opportunities. This may include adaptation and modification of physical spaces, opportunities for inclusion in learning environments, and removing barriers (such as financial, organizational, and in communications)
The way in which an assessment is designed. This includes the weighting of the assessment, the evaluation method, and the way in which the learning will be demonstrated.
The Center for Applied Special Technologies
The way in which a course is designed for the learners. This includes the syllabus, learning activities, assignments and assessments, and instructional methods.
An intentional and active process that dismantles colonial ideologies privileging Western thought, while valuing and revitalizing Indigenous knowledge. It involves challenging dominant discourses, rectifying power imbalances, and changing misconceptions about Indigenous Peoples. For settlers, it’s a self-reflective process examining their beliefs about Indigenous Peoples and cultures in relation to their communities and interactions (adapted from Pulling Together: Foundations Guide by Kory Wilson, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license)
The richness of individual differences, including but not limited to, religion, culture, language, age, national or geographic origin, sexual orientation, politics, socioeconomic, etc.
Everyone is equal and receives the same supports.
Providing individualized supports and/or removing barriers to ensure inclusion. This means providing different supports for different individuals, as compared to equality.
A restriction or barrier that impacts and prevents an individual’s ability to perform an action or take part in an activity. For example, someone with full paralysis to their legs would have a functional limitation in climbing stairs.
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” (Dweck, 2007)
Intentionally and authentically providing equal and equitable learning opportunities, including through adaptation and modification, to ensure all learners are included. Promotes and enhances a richness of diversity in the learning environments.
“Refers to the ways that courses, classroom activities, curricula, and assessments consider issues of diversity in an effort to engage all students in learning that is meaningful, relevant, and accessible.” (Chicago Center for Teaching, The University of Chicago, 2020)
A transformative process that involves the integration and acknowledgment of Indigenous knowledge systems into various domains, with the aim of fostering understanding and respect for these systems. In the context of post-secondary education, it refers to the deliberate and thoughtful combination of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, benefiting all individuals involved. This process respects the diversity and complexity of Indigenous knowledge systems, which are deeply connected to specific lands, cultures, and communities. Indigenization does not seek to replace or merge Western knowledge with Indigenous knowledge, but rather to authentically weave these distinct systems together, enabling learners to understand and appreciate both (adapted from Pulling Together: Foundations Guide by Kory Wilson, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license)
The foundation for instructional design was laid during World War II when hundreds of thousands needed to be taught very specific tasks in a short amount of time. Individual aspects of these complex tasks were broken down, so soldiers could better understand and comprehend each step of the process. This approach was later taken and built upon leading to the development of instructional design, a field of study that marries education, psychology and communications to create the most effective teaching plans for specific groups of students. This is vital because it ensures that students receive instructions in a form that is effective and meaningful to them, helping them better understand the topics and concepts being taught. Simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials. Though, this field goes beyond simply creating teaching materials, it carefully considers how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help individuals achieve their academic goals. The principles of instructional design consider how educational tools should be designed, created and delivered to any learning group, from grade school students to adult employees across all industry sectors. Reference: Purdue University. (2024). What is instructional design? Purdue Online. https://online.purdue.edu/blog/education/what-is-instructional-design)
Refers to the variation in knowledge, learning, skills, interests and abilities in all learners. It is an acknowledgment that no two learners are the same; that each student’s abilities, strengths, and weaknesses are unique and may vary significantly across different dimensions (Rose, 2016)
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Identifying and removing barriers that prevent diversity, equity, and inclusion of difference. Making fair and ethical decisions about the distribution of opportunities and resources through interpersonal and institutional engagement. Reference: Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching. (2024). Defining DEIJ. Northwestern University. https://searle.northwestern.edu/focus-areas/deij/defining-deij.html)
Providing a variety of different means for learners to demonstrate their learning, and in a way that is meaningful and relevant to them. For example, different ways of presenting a final product for an assignment.
Providing a variety of different opportunities and supports for learners to engage. This may include supports for sustaining interest and motivation, along with effort and self-regulation.
Providing a variety of different means of representing or demonstrating a concept. This might include text, audio, visual, etc.
Reference: CAST. (2021, April 20). About universal design for learning. CAST: About Universal Design for Learning. https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl#.XRu2374sCys.
Teaching with intention to support and include those learners who may struggle to access learning opportunities
“The design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability” (Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, 2024)
“Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.” (CAST, 2024)