Fostering Universal Design for Learning and wellbeing at the English Australia QLD PD Fest

Empowering language teachers across Queensland

20 March 2023 I The Queensland Institute

*Ms Vicki Bos (centre back) demonstrates strategies to promote student expression at QLD’s PD Fest.*

As language teachers, we strive to create inclusive learning environments that support the diverse needs of our students. Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into our teaching is one approach that can help us achieve this goal.

The English Australia QLD PD Fest on 18th March, 2023, brought together more than 50 English-language teachers from across Queensland to learn about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the language classroom. The workshop, presented by Ms. Vicki Bos from The Queensland Institute Pty Ltd (QI), provided practical guidance on implementing UDL principles in terms of engagement, representation, and expression.

Vicki demonstrated how UDL principles can help language teachers create more inclusive learning environments by using multimedia resources, providing opportunities for different modes of expression, and promoting student choice and autonomy. Also in attendance on the day were QI team members Ms Fiona Wiebusch, Ms Ceara McManus, Mr Peter Viteetarm, and Ms Cristina Daniela Ojeda Ortega.

“Finding ways to support all learners is always a challenge.” Ms Ojeda Ortega shared, adding, “I loved how the workshop demonstrated so many practical ways to stimulate learning, to present information in different ways, and help students express what they know. Vicki is such a dynamic presenter!”

The QLD PD Fest program also featured plenary sessions on wellbeing and leadership, emerging trends in the ELICOS sector, as well as 24 breakout sessions facilitated by teachers. The QI team enjoyed sessions on a variety of topics including teacher development frameworks, innovative artificial intelligence tools, approaches to student feedback, and more.

The program commenced with an uplifting performance by the UQ Voices choir of international students. The choir was established in 2022 by Professor Genevieve Dingle from The University of Queensland’s School of Psychology to support student wellbeing and social inclusion. QI’s own Vicki Bos is the choir’s Artistic Director and Fiona Wiebusch is a founding member. The choir's performance of indigenous lullaby 'Inanay' set a positive tone for the day, encouraging audience participation and bringing language teachers together in song.

Overall, this year’s QLD PD Fest provided an opportunity for more than 250 language teachers from across Queensland to come together for a day of professional learning, networking, and inspiration, and to explore new ways to support their students' diverse needs.

“For me, inclusion and wellbeing - for students and teachers - were recurring themes today.” Ms Wiebusch said. “That’s what I think the QI team will take away and continue to embed in our practice. We loved re-connecting with our language teaching colleagues and felt inspired to stay focused on innovation for the future. ”

The success of the QLD PD Fest was made possible by the generous support of sponsors, IELTS Official, Allianz Care Australia, ETS TOEFL, Cambridge University Press, The Language People, Pearson, and ReadyTeacher, as well as incredible contributions from English Australia, the QLD PD Fest committee, and UQ College.

Access QI’s Universal Design for Learning Resource bank here:

padlet.com/TheQueenslandInstitute/QLDPDFestUDLPrinciples

Author citation:
Bos, V. (2023, March 18). Including all learners: Applying UDL principles in the English language classroom. English Australia QLD PD Fest with The Queensland Institute, Brisbane, Australia.