UDL in 15 Minutes

Loui Lord Nelson

UDL in 15 Minutes: Where educators share their implementation of Universal Design for Learning with host Loui Lord Nelson.

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20 episodes
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Avg 18 min
English

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#154
August 26 · 18 min
150: Tom Tobin and scaling up UDL on campuses
In this episode of UDL in 15 Minutes, Tom Tobin talks about scaling Universal Design for Learning campus-wide. Tom shares the story of Atlantic Technological University in Ireland, which moved UDL from a grassroots effort to institutional practice through five stages: possible, permitted, supported, rewarded, and expected. Tom and Loui discuss shifting messaging from compliance to genuine support to sustain lasting culture change.
#153
June 17 · 23 min
149: Ikram Sabti applies UDL to engage staff with UDL.
Ikram Sabti, head of primary at The Aures School in Algeria, shares how Universal Design for Learning transformed her inclusive, multilingual classroom and now she now applies those same principles to professional development. Discover how one leader is shifting school culture from compliance to genuine, lasting growth for both students and staff.
#152
May 27 · 17 min
148: Chayma Bouzenag, English Learners in an inclusive Algerian school
Chayma Bouzenag, an Algerian English Department Head, shares how UDL transformed her diverse, inclusive classroom and turned disengaged multilingual learners into confident, self-directed students through flexible expression, collaboration, and barrier-removing design.
#151
April 15 · 14 min
147: Bartola Mavric shares how the Istanbul British International School focuses their UDL work on mindsets and accessibility.
Bartola Mavric, head of student support at the British International School of Istanbul, discusses her school's year-and-a-half journey implementing Universal Design for Learning. She outlines their gradual, staff-friendly approach that began with engagement, building UDL mindsets, and introducing practical classroom toolboxes. Bartola also shares survey results, next steps, and plans to expand UDL into secondary school.
#150
March 25 · 16 min
146: Matt Magowan reveals how UDL transforms PE through choice, collaboration, and inclusion
In this episode, elementary PE teacher and team leader, Matt Magowan shares how Universal Design for Learning transformed his physical education program at the United Nations International School in Hanoi, Vietnam. He discusses using choice boards, collaborative strategies like "campfires," "peace talks," “sentence starters” and popsicle stick continuums to support student agency, social skill development, and self-reflection across all learners.
#149
March 4 · 18 min
145: Marijke Welten works to empower every learner by uncovering their dreams, strengths, and self-identified barriers.
UDL consultant Marijke Welten joins host Loui Lord Nelson to share how she adapted the One Page Profile, a person-driven planning tool, into a personal profile for all students. Marijke walks educators through each section of the tool, explains how student-expressed goals and barriers differ from educator-assumed ones, and offers practical strategies for bringing learner agency into UDL classrooms.
#148
February 18 · 26 min
144: Carla Ferla and Julie Carson share how UDL transforms curriculum design for every learner.
Carla Ferla, head teacher at Peareswood Primary School, and Julie Carson, the director of education at Woodland Academy Trust talk about their transformative UDL journeys. Discover how designing inclusive, flexible learning from the start helps every child thrive.
#147
January 14 · 20 min
143: Creating truly inclusive PE with Courtney Wiley Martin
Discover how Courtney Wiley Martin, an inclusion specialist, and her colleague Casey, a PE teacher, used UDL to create a physical education course that continues to bring students with significant disabilities and general education peers together, transforming school culture and proving students lead the way to true inclusion.
#146
Dec 3, 2025 · 33 min
ThinkUDL: The UDL design cycle, research insights, and implementing inclusive learning in higher education.
This Feed Drop from ThinkUDL features Dr. Kavita Rao from the University of Hawai’i. Dr. Rao discusses the UDL design cycle and the evolving state of Universal Design for Learning research in higher education. Learn how to implement intentional, inclusive design from the outset, understand learner variability, and explore exciting research opportunities across disciplines. Discover practical guidance for conducting your own UDL research and contributing to this growing field.
#145
Nov 5, 2025 · 16 min
142: Lukas Fehlings and Stewart Campbell are building an exciting new UDL community across borders!
Lukas Fehlings and Stewart Campbell share their plans to build a thriving UDL community in German-speaking countries. Hear their strategies for breaking language barriers, creating accessible resources, and connecting educators across borders. Whether you're building your own network or seeking collaboration ideas, this episode offers invaluable insights into grassroots movement-building that's transforming education in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
#144
Oct 29, 2025 · 13 min
141: Gordon Eldridge applies UDL to curriculum design and assessment policy.
In this episode, Gordon shares his journey from being intimidated by curriculum to becoming an expert, and reveals how he reimagined UDL guidelines as learning principles applicable to assessment policy, student leadership, and school-wide practices. Learn how to find flexibility in standards and make UDL work in your context.
#143
Oct 1, 2025 · 22 min
140: Jo Miller and Michelle Ring-Hanson describe their award-winning UDL mentor toolkit
Discover how Wisconsin transformed UDL implementation statewide through a powerful mentor-driven approach. Join Loui Lord Nelson as she speaks with CAST 2025 UDL Innovative Practice Award winners Jo Miller and Michelle Ring-Hanson about their groundbreaking Implementation Trials Mentor Toolkit. Learn how this systematic, teacher-led process supported over 17,000 classroom observations, dramatically increased student engagement, and built collective efficacy across districts. Access their comprehensive toolkit and revolutionize UDL implementation in your school.
#142
Sep 17, 2025 · 12 min
139: Juan Gallardo offers a fresh perspective to get you thinking about the power of UDL
Looking for a fresh perspective on Universal Design for Learning? Join principal Juan Gallardo as he reveals the connections he discovered between UDL and the ancient Greek concepts of logos, pathos, and ethos. Hear how the hero's journey mirrors student learning and why UDL isn't something we design—it's something we discover within ourselves as humans.
#141
Jul 2, 2025 · 13 min
138: Maddy Gentry shares UDL co-teaching strategies: identifying barriers through proactive lesson planning.
Join Maddy Gentry, Learning Support Teacher at Dresden International School, as she shares how UDL transforms co-teaching through critical lesson planning. Discover her breakthrough moment when vocabulary barriers disrupted a math lesson, leading to powerful insights about proactive barrier identification. Learn practical strategies for implementing UDL one step at a time in diverse classrooms.
#140
Jun 18, 2025 · 18 min
137: Librarian Lauren Boop applies UDL to design accessible, student-centered learning spaces.
Elementary librarian Lauren Boop shares how Universal Design for Learning principles transformed her approach to designing a new library space for early childhood through second grade students. From accessible book displays to student-centered learning stations, discover how UDL creates intentional, barrier-free environments that enhance learner agency and outcomes.
#139
Jun 4, 2025 · 13 min
136: Laura Maly-Schmidt shares her beginner's UDL journey as an international school leader.
Laura Maly-Schmidt, MYP Coordinator and Deputy Principal at the International School of Dusseldorf, shares her beginner's journey with Universal Design for Learning. Discover how she models UDL principles in leadership meetings, uses AI tools like LUDIA to create accessible materials, and takes practical first steps to support all learners while building an inclusive school culture.
#138
May 2, 2025 · 15 min
135: Karen Winston-Carpenter coaches new teachers on UDL through empathy and using manageable steps.
Karen Winston-Carpenter, a 24-year veteran teacher and teacher on special assignment in East Cleveland Schools, discusses how she introduces UDL to new educators. She emphasizes creating safe spaces for teachers to try new approaches, "chunking" UDL concepts to make them manageable, modeling empathy, and encouraging reflection through video self-assessment and peer collaboration. Her coaching evolved from focusing on standards to honoring teacher voice and choice.
#137
Mar 12, 2025 · 16 min
134: Transforming Malawi’s classrooms with UDL for inclusive, effective learning
Jane Somanje, a quality assurance officer and National Reading Programme trainer, shares how teachers are embracing UDL to create more inclusive classrooms. Jane shares success stories, discusses challenges like large class sizes, and explains how UDL is improving learning outcomes. Tune in to hear how UDL is making education more equitable and effective!
#136
Feb 26, 2025 · 14 min
133: Elke Greite - Empowering student growth through UDL, personalized goals, and inquiry-based learning.
In this episode of UDL in 15 Minutes, host Loui Lord Nelson speaks with Elke Greite, a middle years IB teacher at Dresden International School, about shifting students' focus from product to process using Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Elke shares how personalized goal-setting, inquiry-driven learning, and the integration of IB’s Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills have transformed her visual arts unit on identity. Discover practical strategies for fostering student agency and deeper engagement.
#135
Feb 12, 2025 · 15 min
132: Katy McBain: Empowering students through self-advocacy, personalized learning, and cognitive coaching.
Katy McBain, head of secondary school learning support at Dresden International School, shares how she and her colleagues empower students by fostering self-advocacy and ownership of learning. She discusses co-creating IEP goals, cognitive coaching, and personalized learning strategies, emphasizing a strengths-based approach to support neurodiverse learners.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes