Development of a universal design for Learning-Based Teaching Collaborative System (UDL-BTCS) to support accessible learning

Abstract

Educational environments should flexibly be designed to serve all learners irrespective of their individual differences, needs, and abilities. However, preparation of qualified instructors is a mainstay for developing inclusive learning. Academic staffs, more specifically, in developing countries need special training programs and efficient interaction environments to improve their teaching abilities. This research aims to develop a Universal Design for Learning-Based Teaching Collaborative System (UDL-BTCS) to support accessible learning. The proposed application represents a network between academic staff and educational institutions allowing them to embrace UDL principles in post k-12. A similar disciplinary approach will be adopted to recommend the best peers in a particular subject. The distributed pre-survey to 156 academic staff in Iraq indicates the need for such a collaborative system. It will assist addressing learner differences and responding to their individual needs. The core contribution of the proposed framework is delivering accessible teacher training courses to develop their individual skills and this, in turn, can promote the educational system in developing countries. A case study is chosen from Iraq because this country has experienced a series of conflicts that duplicated the number of people with special learning needs.