Faculty Efficacy in Creating Productive Learning Environments: Universal Design and the Lens of Students with Disabilities

We present findings from the SciTrain University project, particularly as it relates to faculty development efforts. SciTrain University is a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education to improve the accessibility of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for students with disabilities. In this case study we investigate two broad research questions. First, what do participants learn about creating productive learning environments for all students, including disabled learners, as a result of program participation? Second, what actions have been elicited among various stakeholders toward improving the classroom learning environment, particularly for students with disabilities? In this paper we highlight some of the main features of SciTrain University including workshops and web modules for faculty development. We then introduce the project assessment and evaluation process. Next, we discuss the impact this project has produced for a set of 15 faculty participants. Impacts include transferring ownership of the learning process to students through several classroom activities such as group note taking; creating a greater sense of community through enhanced online communication tools such as forums; and expanding assessment of student learning into the classroom using multiple modes of learning within a class period. Finally, we discuss the potential broader impacts of the SciTrain University project. 1, 2, 3, 4 Georgia Institute of Technology