Action Reseach on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Higher Education

Abstract

Atsunori Fujii is a researcher based in the Junior College at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Japan, whose work revolves around action research on universal design for learning (UDL) in higher education. Fujii and his team are exploring the potential effectiveness of UDL in the higher education classroom setting. The researchers first offered options based on UDL framework to students in traditional lessons, to investigate how it affects a student's willingness to learn, metacognition, and use of learning strategies. In the next step of the project, they focused on flipped classrooms using ICT. They tested the usefulness of the different types of prior learning content in linear algebra lessons and then conducted a survey to discover the students' thoughts. As a result of that action research, the researchers confirmed that lessons based on UDL had a positive impact on students' motivation, even improving students' attitudes towards learning.