Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning, Ubiquitous Learning, and Seamless Learning: How These Paradigms Inform the Intentional Design of Learner-Centered Online Learning Environments

Introduction

Although the use of technology-enhanced learning is flourishing in higher education, there remains a lack of clear, practical guidance on how to offer online learning programs grounded in the principles of culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ubiquitous learning (u-learning), and seamless learning.

The objective is to offer design-based online learning that maximizes active, authentic, personalized, and autonomous learning opportunities. The first part of this chapter provides an introduction to the four paradigms and makes the connection to five dimensions of meaningful learning. In the second part of the chapter, the authors discuss an integrated approach. They present ideas for integrated learning scenarios, provide an account of their own ‘real’ teaching in online settings, and they introduce a one-stop checklist that combines the salient characteristics of the four paradigms and assists educators in making instructional design decisions.