NSF IUSE Grant

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) initiative seeks to improve student learning in college math courses.

Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Sacred Heart University faculty in mathematics and teacher education will work together to improve student learning in college math courses by developing and testing a professional development program for mathematics faculty that is guided by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines and research-based practices in math education.

College students often find introductory mathematics courses challenging, such as college algebra, precalculus and calculus I. Mathematics courses can create barriers that impede progress in both STEM and non-STEM majors.

The project—titled “Integrating Methods for Universal Design for Learning in Introductory Undergraduate Mathematics Courses”—developed and assessed the effectiveness of a faculty professional development program designed to help mathematics faculty implement UDL in introductory mathematics courses. UDL provides guidelines for using teaching strategies that account for the diversity of learners and seek to improve student accessibility to course content.

Broader Impacts

The project has generated and tested a professional development program that is effective at enabling college mathematics faculty to implement instructional change to enhance teaching. Participating faculty members have introduced new instructional strategies in their classrooms that reduce barriers in mathematics, reaching 800 students. Analysis and dissemination efforts are underway, and products will be shared as they are finalized.

Ongoing Dissemination Efforts

Bertrand, E., Keazer, L., Phaiah, J. (2024). From guided to guiding: Optimizing note-taking scaffolds with universal design for learning. [Manuscript submitted for publication.]

Phaiah, J., Bertrand, E., & Keazer, L. (September 27, 2024). Optimizing postsecondary teaching through high-leverage UDL strategies. Workshop presentation at the Goodwin College Universal Design for Learning Conference: “No Labels, No Limits: Exploring the Power of UDL.”

Phaiah, J. A., & Keazer, L. (March 2, 2023). Using universal design for learning to create inclusive secondary mathematics classrooms. Presentation at the annual conference of the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut, in New Haven, CT.

Phaiah, J. A., & Keazer, L. (February 4, 2023). A framework connecting research-based practices in mathematics education to universal design for learning guidelines. Presentation at the annual conference of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. New Orleans, LA.

Meet the Team

Elliott BertrandElliott Bertrand, Ph.D.

Elliott Bertrand, Ph.D., associate professor at Sacred Heart University, is the principal investigator of the National Science Foundation IUSE Award #2142315. Bertrand earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Rhode Island. His research interests lie in the fields of scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) as well as discrete dynamical systems. With colleagues Lindsay Keazer and Jennifer Phaiah, he investigates ways to improve undergraduate mathematics education using the Universal Design for Learning Guidelines.

Lindsay KeazerLindsay Keazer, Ph.D.

Lindsay Keazer, Ph.D., associate professor at Sacred Heart University, is co-principal investigator of NSF IUSE Award #2142315. Keazer earned her Ph.D. in curriculum & instruction with an emphasis on mathematics education from Purdue University and completed postdoctoral training at Michigan State University. Her research interests focus on teacher learning and instructional change  around shifting towards student-centered pedagogies.

Jennifer PhaiahJennifer Phaiah, Ed.D.

Jennifer Phaiah, Ed.D., associate teaching professor at Sacred Heart University, is co-principal investigator of NSF IUSE Award #2142315. Phaiah earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership from Johnson and Wales University. She is actively engaged in research and grants to improve teacher education in K-16. Her research interests include how to integrate the Universal Design for Learning principles in mathematics education, how teachers are selected and trained for the role of hosting a student teacher and how digital media interventions influence students’ digital agency and well-being.

Want to Learn More?

Interested in finding out more about the project or collaborating on a future project? Email Elliott Bertrand at bertrande@sacredheart.edu.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2142315. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.