Course Design Institute
Reimagining Learning with Universal Design for Learning
June 4 & 5, 2026, 9 am–4:30 pm
Blackburn Room, Robarts Library (4th floor), 130 St. George Street
This two-day Course Design Institute (CDI), offered jointly by the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI) and the Centre for Faculty Development (CFD) in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, introduces frameworks and practical strategies to offer more inclusive, accessible, and flexible learning opportunities to your students using the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Facilitators
- Lindsay Baker, Associate Director, Curriculum Integration & Partnerships, Centre for Faculty Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
- Michal Kasprzak, Assistant Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
- Beck McNeil, Education Development Advisor, Centre for Faculty Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
- Jasjit Sangha, Educational Developer, Anti-Racist Pedagogies, Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Toronto Scarborough
- Samantha Chang, Educational Developer, Teaching, Learning & Technology, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
What is UDL?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for proactively designing courses that welcome learner variability and reduce barriers to learning. Rather than adapting a course for individual student needs after the fact, UDL encourages instructors to embed flexibility, options, and support into the learning environment from the outset. This approach promotes learner agency, enhances access to learning, and helps create equitable opportunities for all students to succeed and thrive.
To learn more about the UDL framework and related resources at U of T, visit CTSI’s Teaching with Universal Design for Learning at U of T microsite.
What will you learn?
In this two-day CDI, facilitators will guide you through a collaborative exploration of UDL guidelines, anti-racist practices, and evidence-informed approaches to course development. Whether you are designing a new course or redesigning an existing one, the CDI will help you reimagine your approach to teaching in dynamic and evolving learning contexts.
Through reflection on positionality, values, and teaching environments, you will consider how to design learning experiences that are responsive, flexible, and intentional in supporting diverse learners.
Who is the CDI for?
The CDI is designed for instructors with post-secondary teaching experience who are looking to enhance inclusivity, accessibility, and flexibility in their course design practices. Participants may come with a range of experiences—which will enrich discussion and collective learning. Throughout the Institute, you will draw on your past experiences to explore practical ways to apply a UDL approach within your course context.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants are University of Toronto instructors (appointed faculty, adjunct faculty, or sessional lecturers) with at least two years of teaching experience at U of T. Priority will be given to instructors teaching in Fall 2026, Winter 2027, and Summer 2027.
This program is not open to graduate students or postdoctoral fellows. Graduate students interested in programming related to course design or UDL are encouraged to visit the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) website.
Facilitation and Format
The CDI takes place in person and is facilitated by educational developers from CTSI and the Centre for Faculty Development. Over two days, participants work individually, in pairs, and in small groups using a combination of print and digital materials.
- Day 1 focuses on UDL foundations, situational factors, and course-level mapping. A short pre-work reflection completed in advance will be revisited on Day 1.
- Day 2 provides an opportunity to deepen your overall course design or concentrate on a specific component such as an assessment, assignment, learning activity, or engagement strategy.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the two-day CDI, participants will be able to:
- use reflective practices to consider positionality, values, and situational factors that inform teaching and learning;
- engage in course design through the lenses of anti-racist and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to reduce barriers and support meaningful student engagement;
- map and align course elements, including measurable learning outcomes, flexible and learning-centred assessments, and effective teaching activities and supports; and
- develop an action plan to anticipate and troubleshoot potential challenges and barriers in a course design or redesign.
Time Commitment and Engagement
A brief piece of pre-work will be provided in advance to help you prepare for the Institute.
Participants are expected to attend both days of the CDI. The Institute runs from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm each day, and the learning is cumulative, iterative, and community-based, with activities that build on one another through shared discussion and collaboration. Lunch will be provided on both days.
Application Timeline
- Application opens on January 12, 2026
- Application deadline is April 8, 2026
- Notifications of acceptance will be sent on April 29, 2026
- Acceptance confirmation is due by May 20, 2026