At the University of British Columbia, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Fellows Program is showing what’s possible when students and instructors design learning together.
At UBC Sauder, student staff Kiran Dhanda and Yuan Lei didn’t just support projects – they helped reshape how learning environments are experienced, accessed, and improved.
Movement, connection, and learning in action
Kiran, a B+MM student, worked on Kari Marken’s UDL Project exploring a simple but powerful question:
What happens when we design learning to include movement?
What she found was striking! Students didn’t just enjoy it, they learned differently. Movement helped them feel more comfortable, connect with peers, and engage more deeply with course content.
But the real insight goes beyond movement itself.
Kiran reflects on:
- why physical classroom design matters more than we think
- how clear learning objectives shape student experience
- and what it feels like when a student voice is truly valued in research and teaching
“I didn’t realize how much small changes – like movement – could completely shift how students experience learning.”
designing access: technology as an enabler
Yuan, a Business Technology Management student, approached UDL from a different angle:
How can technology remove barriers before students ever encounter them?
Through his work, he helped transfom course materials by:
- adding alt text for visual accessibility
- creating video transcripts for flexible engagement
- converting PDFs into searchable, usable documents
His work wasn’t about adding more, it was about designing smarter so every student has options.
But what changed most was his perspective.
Yuan shares a powerful realization: education often assumes a “standard” student but in reality, no such student exists.
“It made me realize – education is often built for a ‘standard’ student… but there really isn’t one.”
what happens when students become partners
Across both experiences, one theme stands out: Learning design is stronger when students are part of it.
Kiran saw how collaboration creates better outcomes – where student perspectives are not just included, but actively shape teaching.
Yuan witnessed instructors deeply listening and responding to student experiences – building environments that are not only accessible, but intentially inclusive.
why this matters for ubc sauder
These stories bring UDL to life in practical ways:
Engagement > Movement and interaction build connection
Representation > Multiple formats support different ways of learning
Inclusion > Student voices shape better design
And perhaps most importantly:
When we design with students, not just for them, we create learning environments where more students can succeed.
Getting Help
To learn more about UDL initiatives at UBC Sauder, please reach out to Siobhan Cook, Director, Learning Technologies or Erica Hill, Learning Designer at help@sauder.ubc.ca.
