Rethinking Classroom Design: Strategies for Creating Inclusive Learning Environments

Download or read book Rethinking Classroom Design: Strategies for Creating Inclusive Learning Environments written by Elizabeth Rodgers Woods and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Classroom accessibility to meet the diverse needs of students in higher education can be challenging. The ADA (1990) was enacted into law in the United States more than 25 years ago. Yet despite legislative reform, many U.S. colleges and universities struggle to meet accessibility standards in their instructional facilities. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perspectives of undergraduate students served by the University of Georgia Disability Resource Center on how the physical classroom space impacts learning for students with disabilities. Results from an explanatory mixed methods design indicated that how classroom designs impact learning depends on individual student needs. That said, the data showed concurrence across several classroom design features impacting the learning experience, including furniture, access, technology, and environmental features of a space. Participants indicated these features impacted their learning experience in various ways, including impeded access and participation, barriers for learning, and distractions and sensory impacts. The results of this study indicated that accessibility is a complex process involving many constituents on campus, from facility planners to institutional leaders to faculty. By adopting more inclusive principles such as Universal Design, we can broaden current accessibility practices that focus solely on users who are disabled to address a broader consideration: "How can we rethink classroom design so it benefits all?"