This document outlines a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) action plan to improve academic advising at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College. The plan aims to increase student engagement and access to advising resources by digitizing information and using multiple formats like websites, blogs, videos and technology. Advisors will receive training to develop and share advising materials online. This will allow students to access information and advisors in more ways to better address different learning needs. The timeline is three months to implement changes like an advising website, blogs, and publishing existing materials digitally.

1. Universal Design for Learning Action Planfor Academic Advising Practice at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College Abbie Werner EDSP 856

3. Requires multiple approaches to instructional delivery.

4. Addresses the different learning needs and strengths of different students.

5. Supports challenge and engagement among students in different learning environments.

6. Encourages the use of technology to increase access.What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

7. Principle I: Recognition Principle Educators should provide multiple means of representation so that students have options. Principle II: Strategic Principle Educators should provide multiple means of action and expression so that students have options. Principle III: Affective Principle Educators should provide multiple means of engagement so that students have options. Principles of UDL

9. Students can currently only access advisors in person on campus

10. Technology is not currently used by the advising center to connect with students

11. Different students need information to be delivered in different formats.

12. Advising delivery should address the different learning and engagement needs of different students.

14. After training, advisors will begin to publish updated academic advising information on an academic advising website. This site will link to an additional site with blog posts and vlogs (see my Glogster presentation on vlogs in advising) created by JSRCC advisors. The purpose of these sites will be to provide a place for JSRCC students to access policy information and digital advising tools in different formats. Additionally, students will be able to connect with an advisor through instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook and video conferencing when they are unable to meet with an advisor on campus. This provides options for students to engage at different times with advisors. Implementing UDL for Advising at JSRCC

15. Dr. T. Hollings, student affairs administrator, will be responsible for providing training time and assessment resources for the use of new digital advising tools. Ms. T. Jones , Mr. J. Chang and Ms. A. Werner, advisors, will be responsible for learning to use digital tool and using these tools to develop digital advising materials. Mr. J. Seethe, support staff, will be responsible for communicating changes and benefits to students and faculty. Mr. E. McMurdo, IT support staff, will work with advisors and administrators to ensure web space is available and to provide training on site development and management. Who will be involved?

17. Large numbers of fliers were printed and stacked in student services offices, with the hopes of reaching students with information.

18. Posters were posted on halls where students congregated.

20. Digital “Glogster” posters displayed on plasma screens in student common areas

22. Advising information will be delivered differently. Students will be able to access information in new ways. This means that advisors will be prepared to provide information in new ways. Advisors will: physically work in the advising center office to created and manage advising blogs (to be hosted on the schools main frame), which include both text and vlog posts, to discuss new developments that impact students. be available from the advising center office for remote digital contact with students by accessing new instant messaging feature on advising website during assigned advising coverage periods work from the advising center office to post information and reminders to students using Facebook and Twitter be available from the advising center office for virtual advising appointments with students using Skype or Adobe Connect Where will advising change?

23. The timeline for implementation is three months, allowing for training of advisors, development of advising website and advising blog, as well as the digitizing and publishing of previously created of advising materials. When will advising change?

24. Timeline Details

25. Obstacles and Solutions Obstacles Solutions Server space for digital material may be difficult to maintain Training of advisors and administrators may require large resources of time. New assessment tools for measuring advising effectiveness of new methods will need to be developed and utilized. Maintain supportive relationship and open communication with JSRCC IT department Invest significant time on advisor training Work with JSRCC Office of Academic Assessment to develop surveys and assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of new advising methods

26. The purpose of this UDL action plan is to implement changes in the delivery of academic advising information at JSRCC. After the plan is enacted, students will be able to access advising information by viewing videos, reading micro-blogging and blogging posts, or accessing the information in traditional printed handbooks and schedules. Students will also be able to use new technologies to connect with advisors, thus improving the opportunity for students to engage in the academic advising relationship. Conclusion

27. CAST, Inc. (2001). CAST UDL Online Modules. Retrieved on April 29, 2011 from: http://www.udlonline.cast.org/page/module1/l157 Resource