UNIVERSAL DESIGN IN THE EARTH SCIENCES: SOME THINGS WE MAY ALREADY BE DOING, BUT CAN CONSCIOUSLY DO BETTER AND FURTHER EXPAND OUR SKILLS
We interact with students without disabilities and with learning, vision, hearing, and physical mobility disabilities in our core non majors courses, as well as enrolled in bachelors and masters level programs. Presentation of geosciences information through interlacing activities using tactile and graphical visualizations, as well as supplementing with sound and sub-captioning, are the tip of the iceberg for effective Universal Design pedagogical means to engage students with and without disabilities. Therefore, such accommodations can be better addressed and are really universal designs appropriate for the broader learning audience. Several simple and relatively inexpensive universal methods can be incorporated into curricular activities and will be addressed. Another important technique is to introduce concepts in the field. Experiential learning is invaluable to most learners. Establishing a student cohort early in a course through fieldtrips or guided team activities provides establishment of a peer-support group that can access concrete experiences to form concept connections, and begin to develop confidence with regard to science learning and applications.