Welcome to your next UDL Explorer Challenge Activity!
This challenge falls within the UDL Principle of Engagement.
Our Challenge for You
Think of a community-building activity you are currently using or would like to use in the future. You will find instructions, examples, and helpful resources below. We are excited to see what you come up with!
Why Is This Important for UDL?
Building community in your courses is vital to increasing student engagement. Students become engaged in class when they feel they are a part of the group and are valued. It is so important to establish a trusting classroom environment where students feel safe to take intellectual risks and talk about what they know and what interests them.
This connects with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principle of engagement that speaks to fostering collaboration and community. A strong sense of community helps create a positive learning environment where students can be successful.
Examples
Here are some examples of activities that build community:
Heidi’s Activity
I like to use an activity where students are shown an interesting picture and asked, ‘What is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can you find?’ Students can work in groups or together to come up with ideas. This activity encourages communication and collaboration, and most importantly, it’s fun!
Venecia’s Activity
I like to do a virtual escape room with different cohorts in my organizational behaviour class. I usually do this activity when I teach the topic “Working in Teams.” Students are grouped in different teams on Zoom and must try to escape the room by reading the clues together and figuring out what to do. Students really enjoy this activity. It helps them explore the course concepts and also builds friendships.
Explore
Learn more about the UDL guidelines for fostering collaboration and community.
Western University explains the importance of building community and provides some examples on its Building Community webpage.
The University of Toronto provides practical examples of how to build community in online classes in this Building Community Online blog post.
Next Steps: Reflect and Implement
Think about the activity we just completed. What is one key takeaway or insight you gained from it? How did this activity enhance your understanding of the concept? Identify one action you can take to apply this new knowledge or skill in a real-world context.