Leading members of Portobello Institute's Early Years and Inclusive Education faculty recently shared their research at the 2nd International Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium at Maynooth University.
Portobello Institute Programme Leads Jacinta Murphy and Iryna Fox shared their insights, experiences and best practices around UDL with educators, researchers, and experts from all over Ireland, Scotland, England, Sweden, the USA, and Canada working in a variety of educational fields.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that seeks to create inclusive educational experiences by addressing the needs of diverse and variable learners and aims to meet the diverse educational needs of learners across all stages of life.
Portobello Institute deeply values inclusive education, learning and one-to-one support for all. UDL emphasises flexibility in teaching methods, resources, and assessments, ensuring all learners can engage, comprehend, and succeed.
A Global Gathering
The symposium featured an array of thought-provoking sessions and presentations spread over two days. Many of the activities were led by CAST, a Massachusetts-based organisation that pioneered the UDL framework. Established in 1984, CAST originally focused on developing technologies to assist learners with learning disabilities, however today, it is a world leader in research and education, driving innovation in inclusive learning.
Personal stories, such as those shared by Dr Margaret Flood, highlighted how individuals can overcome disadvantages to become leaders in inclusive education.
Dr Flood’s inspiring journey underscored the power of UDL in transforming lives and shaping education in Ireland.
Jacinta Murphy and Iryna Fox pictured at the 2nd International Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium at Maynooth University.
Portobello Institute’s Insights
Dr Iryna Fox is the Programme Lead for Portobello Institute's Inclusive Education Practice programmes, while Jacinta Murphy is Programme Lead on our Early Childhood Care and Education degrees.
They contributed to the symposium by delivering a practical session on supporting the learning of a visually impaired student in an online environment. Their session focused on overcoming challenges and removing barriers for students with additional needs. They emphasised the importance of:
- Reflecting on and redesigning our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to ensure true inclusivity.
- Collaborating with experts and partners to create supportive learning spaces.
- Empowering students by giving them a voice to ensure their needs are fully understood, avoiding top-down solutions.
They highlighted how committed their student was to her learning journey, which resulted in her successfully completing the course and progressing to further studies.
Impact on Portobello Institute’s Teaching Practice
The event reflects the deep focus on inclusive teaching practices at Portobello Institute.
UDL’s focus on engagement, representation, action, and expression aligns closely with Portobello Institute’s core values of making education accessible, nurturing individual potential, and fostering innovation.
This framework has provided a clear language and structure to guide the Institute's approach to inclusive education.
Following the symposium, Portobello Institute has:
- Updated the syllabi of some modules to ensure both academic staff and students remain informed of the latest developments in educational research and practice.
- Learned about new professional development opportunities to further enhance staff knowledge and skills in supporting diverse learners.
- Begun incorporating assistive technologies and inclusive learning strategies shared by symposium participants.
As our new academic year begins, Portobello Institute has already put its learning from the symposium into action. By continuing to integrate the UDL framework into our teaching practices, we aim to ensure that education is accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all learners.
A core value and goal at Portobello Institute is to nurture the one in everyone and to be at the forefront of innovation. With Programme Leads such as Dr Iryna Fox and Jacinta Murphy on our team our dynamic and inclusive education practices at Portobello Institute continue to lead and evolve.
If you are interested in our Inclusive Education or Early Years qualifications you can book a consultation call with our expert advisor, Sarah Coyne, email sarah.coyne@portobelloinstitute.com or call 01 892 0028.
