Inclusive teaching

Best practice tips for lecturers:

1. Upload all session content to the VLE ahead of the teaching event. There is no evidence to suggest providing content in advance reduced attendance. By providing material in advance you give learners a chance to digest it in their own way, including transferring it to alternative formats, and they can then engage in the teaching event more effectively. Providing information in advance also presents you with a wider range of teaching opportunities – enabling you to flip the classroom for example, or get students to discuss their pre-reading in groups.
2. Who’s in your class? – Ensure you are familiar with the students you are teaching and check their declared disabilities and requirements.
3. Follow basic accessibility guidelines for documents/materials – you can read more about this below.
4. Allow/facilitate recording of your teaching – unless there are copyright/data restrictions be open in allowing students to record you teaching. It can be hard for individual students to come and ask for permission. Why not make it clear on your first presentation slide that students are welcome to use recording devices?
5. Mix up groups – try allocating students to groups rather than allowing them to choose their own. This can lead to a more diverse learning environment.
6. Create a multi-sensory learning environment, to encourage learning and aid retention, by using video clips, pictures, diagrams, practical and experiential activities, etc.
7. Ensure reading lists are focused and up to date. Direct students to individual chapters or articles, and refer to ebooks/ejournals where possible.
8. Adopt inclusive marking and feedback approaches.
9. Ask! Speak to your students about your teaching methods, and how you might better involve them in their learning; peer observe; share practice across the team.