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Week of October 28, 2025

This week, we continue exploring the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, developed by CAST, which helps us design learning environments that give every student the opportunity to succeed. The CAST UDL Guidelines can be applied in any discipline or setting to ensure that all learners are able to access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities. Rooted in neuroscience, UDL encourages us to create flexible pathways that give all students equitable opportunities to engage, access information, and demonstrate understanding. Instead of asking, “How can students fit the lesson?” UDL asks, “How can the lesson fit our students?” 

These principles remind us that learning is both emotional and cognitive, students need to be motivated to learn, and they need to encounter information in ways that make sense to them. 

As we put these UDL principles into practice, here are a few strategies to keep in mind when designing or reflecting on your lessons:

As you plan for the weekend ahead, consider how these UDL principles might show up in your lessons. Even one intentional change can open new possibilities for student learning and connection. For additional information and support, please visit the UTLC UDL Webpage. You can also download the UDL 3.0 guidelines.

Citation: CAST (2024). Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 3.0.

The Alumni Teaching Excellence Awards offered by the University Teaching and Learning Commons at University of North Carolina at Greensboro recognize and celebrate faculty members who demonstrate outstanding teaching, mentorship, and instructional innovation. Nominations are open to everyone, alumni, students, staff, and faculty alike, making this an inclusive opportunity to acknowledge educators who have made a meaningful impact. The awards include several categories (matched to faculty rank and appointment type) and provide a way to shine a light on those who elevate the learning experience through both traditional and blended/online formats. For full details on eligibility, nomination procedures, and past recipients, you can visit the official site. Nominations are accepted until Tuesday December 3, 2025.

Join the UTLC and the Office of Intercultural Engagement for a conversation about student experiences in the classroom and beyond. VOISES panels provide a venue for faculty to hear the perspective of students about their experiences on campus. These moderated panels give faculty the chance to ask questions while reflecting on ways they can support student success and learning.

Please register to receive full event details and location.

This fall, ITS and the UTLC are pleased to announce that we will be offering two days of accessibility incubators on November 10 and 14th! Bring your laptop and come to workshops and/or receive hands on help with course accessibility. Exact schedules are TBD, but please register so that we can start planning head counts and food.  

Open Office Hours with ITS: Learning Technology’s Instructional Design Team: Tuesdays 10am–12pm, starting 10/7 

Did you read through the Teaching Tips and think "I might need a little help with this"?

Drop in for a conversation with an instructional designer! We can assist with course and assessment design, discuss teaching questions, and help with Canvas, Teams, and other learning technology.

No registration is needed; you can just join online.

Introducing a new resource for Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs) - the GTA Network. The GTA Network is open to all graduate teaching associates and is a space to connect, learn from colleagues, and receive collaborative support. 

Please find the meeting link at go.uncg.edu/gta.network. If you have questions, please contact Judy Fowler at JAFOWLE3@uncg.edu.

Magna Publications has a weekly newsletter with teaching tips, strategies, and the latest best practices of teaching offering approaches on a wide range of teaching topics, such as:

Visit go.UNCG.edu/TheTeachingProfessor and use your UNCG Email address to register.

Magna Publications offers a series of 20-minute and 40-minute workshops on teaching and learning topics from national experts in teaching and learning.

The UTLC has secured campus access to over 20 trainings on topics such as teaching effectiveness, generative AI, student engagement, course design, and much more.

The UTLC has additional new online resources available for you, including self-paced training options, resources for Generative AI, and teaching guides. We also have new syllabus resources up, including an updated syllabus template.

UNCG is pleased to be administering a pilot of a new teaching evaluation system, Anthology Evaluate.  Much of our feedback during the 2024/25 academic year was favorable, with users finding the system easy to use and the reporting to be accessible. 

Anthology uses research validated common questions; units can also add custom questions. The system mobile friendly and can be used in the classroom, which raised response rates for instructors who opted to do so this past year. Instructors and their heads have access to reporting one to two days after the close of the administration and can access their reports anytime they like online.

We are recruiting more pilot participants for this academic year! If you are interested in participating in the Spring 2026 Cohort, please click the button below to fill out the interest form.

If you have questions, please email the UTLC at utlc@uncg.edu.

Check out these upcoming opportunities from the UTLC and other partners on campus. Additionally, the university workshop calendar has opportunities.