In this session learn how The University of the West Indies Open Campus, has used relevant Universal Instructional Design (UID) strategies to make improvements in teaching and learning whilst maintaining academic rigour. This presentation will focus on the ability of one cohort of students to complete their course of study with excellence in the undergraduate programme [EDLM]. According to Roa (2013), with the deliberate application of UID principles during the instructional design process, course developers should be able to proactively develop courses that address the needs of diverse learners.
As a regional institution the University of the West Indies continues to provide access to quality programmes, while aligning itself with industry partners and other stakeholders to establish its presence as the premier higher education institution using innovative strategies including ICTs. The UWI core values includes integrity, excellence, diversity and student-centredness. This paradigm shift to student-centered strategies have paved the way for improvements in teaching and learning in multimode delivery. Since 2008 the open and distance learning arm of the institution, the Open Campus, have changed the strategies in curriculum design and development to adopt Universal Instructional Design more suited for student success. The mix of students taking programmes via the Open Campus are diverse and include adult learners returning to study after prolonged period of absence from the traditional classroom, also some with cultural and language differences. This study will focus on the ability of one cohort of students to complete their course of study with excellence in undergraduate programme [EDLM]. With a deliberate application of UD principles during the instructional design process, course developers can proactively develop courses that address the needs of diverse learners. (Roa, 2013). The UID model adopted by the OC affords those types of strategies that promote student-centred learning among non-traditional learners.