Category: Peer Responses

Sasha Trickey

Hi Sasha! I really loved how you emphasized how important the shift away from “one-size-fits-all” is when you broke down the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Your point about agency is so valuable: UDL is not just about accessibility, but about empowering students to take ownership of their learning.

It’s interesting that you prefer synchronous online classes, I’m the exact opposite. I think this goes to show how important it is to have options, so learners can choose what sort of class works best for them. I really like your suggestion of blending the two approaches to focus on flexibility AND connection, and I think that would be a strong idea that benefits all parties.

Your ideas for increasing interaction when teaching online were fantastic. Collaborative and playful elements like Kahoot not only help with learning, but also build community, which is something that online spaces tend to lack. In sum, your blog post really highlighted why inclusive design matters: not only to support students with barriers, but to create a better learning environment for everyone!

Max Lockwood

Hi Max! I love how you broke down the three UDL principles and connected them to your own educational experiences. Your tutoring example really shows how Multiple Means of Representation can transform a students confidence and comprehension. I absolutely loved your story about the wig too. It showed that inclusion doesn’t always have to be elaborate and small moments can have the most meaningful impact.

Your breakdown of synchronous vs asynchronous learning was super clear, and I enjoyed reading about the hybrid model you had in your EPHE course. It goes to show how these two approaches can support each other, providing structure with flexibility, designed with accessibility in mind.

In sum, your blog post highlighted the idea that UDL is more than just a framework, but a mindset too, preaching belonging and inclusivity.

Sophia Votova

Hi Sophia! I really loved the way you weaved together UDL, Inclusive Learning Design, and Synchronous vs Asynchronous learning. I especially liked how you acknowledged the global evolution of UDL, illustrating how this idea grows beyond a western context. As a dancer myself, I absolutely loved the tortoise vs hare dance and I think this was a fantastic contribution to your talking points.

It’s so true than many of us only recognized the strength of asynchronous formats once we were immersed in them during the Covid-19 pandemic. I loved hearing how anonymous collaboration increased student voice in your Psychology class. This really demonstrates how digital tools can make learning feel safer in a non-judgmental environment. Overall, this post really highlighted how, when educators design with inclusion in mind, every student becomes more likely to succeed.

Sasha Trickey

Hi Sasha! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this module and your explanation of Backward Design and Understanding by Design, especially how you connected it to Jennifer Gonzalez’s Cult of Pedagogy podcast! You really hammered in that teaching is most effective when we start with the why and plan with a purpose.

I loved reading your reflection on inquiry-based and project-based learning. Hearing that, while you didn’t connect with the class novel, you really got into the novel-based trivia game is so awesome and goes to show that the design methods we are learning really make a difference when put into practice. I would’ve loved for you to go deeper into what assessment looks like for inquiry and project-based learning. While a class-made rubric is great for summative assessment, I wonder how self-reflection and formative assessment can be incorporated.

This blog post was engaging, succinct, and does a great job outlining different design methods and how they are interconnected. I can’t wait to read your next one!

Max Lockwood

Hi Max! I really enjoyed reading your blog post, especially how reflective and personal your thoughts on these design theories were! Connecting the Understanding by Design model with your lived experience this term really captures the key point of design models like this, and how it allows both teachers and learners alike to plan with intention.

Your example of the carnival game you and your out-of-school-care kids created is such a fun and authentic use of Design Thinking in action. I loved how you laid out your process, walking us (as in the readers) through the stages, showing how this framework really works in teaching. It’s great to see how empathy can lead to more meaningful engagement and, sometimes, even new carnival games!

Your learning-by-doing mountain biking example was such a great anecdote for experiential learning. It ties in so well with the theme of your post and really shows that true growth comes from curiosity and reflection, not rote memorization.

Max Lockwood

Hi Max! It was great to look into your blog. I wonder if you could go a little deeper in your “About Me” section by explaining what occupational therapy really is. That might help readers who aren’t as familiar with the field connect more with your perspective. While I love how your blog post is laid out so nicely, including a lot of multimedia, it would be awesome to see you infuse a bit of colour into your website to really make it pop!

I really liked how you described learning as something that comes from practice and real-life application. Your example from anatomy shows that you have strong strategies for your own learning by watching crash course videos, studying ahead of time, and taking notes. Hearing that you hand-write notes is awesome, that definitely makes the material stick in your brain! Nowadays in lecture it seems like everyone is on laptops and they’re definitely missing out on that opportunity. I’m glad to hear that these strategies helped you feel less overwhelmed and more confident.

I really relate to what you said about cognitivism. Having information organized and easy-to-follow makes such a difference when learning. I love how you connected this to your work experiences, and it’s awesome that using clear documents and hour-by-hour outlines not only helped you, but also made things go smoother for the people you were working with.

Lastly, I liked your point about self-concept in adult learning. Wanting to try things on your own first shows that independence, but also knowing when to ask for help is a super important balance. That mix of self-reliance and willingness to seek support will definitely help you in both school and your future career.

Sasha Trickey

Hi Sasha! When I first looked into your blog, it was pretty basic, but it looks like you’ve really individualized it! I loved seeing the difference between you in Kindergarten and then your first day as a student teacher, that’s super cute! I know you said you wanted to infuse some colour into your site, so here is a YouTube video I found that can help you out with that!

I loved how you described learning as not just receiving information but also in the way that we interpret and connect it to the world around us. Your experience as an Early Childhood Educator really highlights how much learning is tied to trust, relationships, and early literacy. It’s easy to dismiss how much kids learn before they even get to school, just by observing and interacting with the world around them.

I understand what you said about struggling with online learning, although I’d rather be engaged in an online class than tired and disengaged because I’d dragged myself to an 8:30am. It’s not for everyone, but online learning definitely makes education more accessible. It’s great that you’ve found strategies like flashcards and Quizlet to make online learning more manageable.

Your point about confidence really stood out to me. It’s so true that students are more likely to try when they believe they can succeed, I definitely feel that way too. I like your reminder that teachers should highlight what students are already doing well, not just what they need to fix, building trust and motivation.

Lastly, I appreciate how you talked about biases in adult learning. Your math example showed how an engaging teacher can completely change how we see a subject (any chance that prof was Tom Thompson??), which is such an important concept in the career we’re going into!

Sophia Votova

Hi Sophia! I really enjoyed looking into your blog and reading your “About Me.” While I love all the multimedia you integrated into your first blog post, I wonder if you could look further into captivating titles and which title words get capitalized!

I like how you connected memory to learning and I agree that the two really go hand-in-hand. Your point about cramming really stood out to me. I’ve done that too many times, and while it works short-term, I always forget the material quickly. As an education major, I think moving assessment away from grade-based exams where students will cram to get that A toward deep-learning inquiry assignments is so important. Breaking down memory into encoding, consolidation, and retrieval makes it l easy to understand why real, deep learning takes time and practice.

I also thought it was interesting how you linked your dance teaching to these theories. Even without knowing the names of the theories at the time, you were already using them in practice, which shows how natural some of these approaches can be when teaching.

Finally, I really enjoyed your knitting example with Jenny. It showed how all the theories can overlap to make a lesson engaging and meaningful. I think if I were in her class too, I’d feel confident because I’m set up for success.