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Universal Design in Postsecondary Education: A Systematic Review

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Learning, Design, and Technology

Abstract

Based upon systematic reviews of the use of universal design (UD) in higher education, the findings of the current review underscore the benefits of applying UD for all students in postsecondary education settings. Major findings include the following. The term universal design for learning is among the most frequently used in the literature to describe UD in education compared to other terms such as universal instructional design and universal design of instruction. Communities of learning (e.g., discussion or learning activity groups) and hands-on activities (e.g., modifications of individualized education plans and learning technology implementations) delivered as online or face-to-face (F2F) are among the two most common forms of learning activities used in the application of the UD principles. A relationship may exist between learners and delivery mode, in that traditional students may be more adept at taking F2F courses, whereas nontraditional learners may find online courses more attractive. Furthermore, technology may be independent of delivery mode, at least in the context of F2F and online. Finally, effect sizes were reported in only 4 of the 15 studies examined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ZÖe Center for ABA and Development Services, Columbus, Georgia, USA

    Soonhwa Seok

  2. Solers Research Group, Orlando, FL, USA

    Boaventura DaCosta

  3. Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Linda S. Heitzman-Powell

Authors
  1. Soonhwa Seok
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  2. Boaventura DaCosta
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  3. Linda S. Heitzman-Powell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Boaventura DaCosta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Info, Ste G150, Univ of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

    Michael J Spector

  2. School of Education, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Barbara B Lockee

  3. School of Education, Baker University, Overland Park, KS, USA

    Marcus D. Childress

Section Editor information

  1. Distance Education Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Hale Ilgaz

  2. Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo, Saltillo, Mexico

    Gloria Natividad

  3. Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Arif Altun

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Seok, S., DaCosta, B., Heitzman-Powell, L.S. (2020). Universal Design in Postsecondary Education: A Systematic Review. In: Spector, M.J., Lockee, B.B., Childress, M.D. (eds) Learning, Design, and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_163-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_163-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17727-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17727-4

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