Adaptive Learning Pedagogy of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Multimodal Training

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Traditionally, students or trainees usually receive training through a unidirectional instructional approach that can lack interactive activities or through a single material source in classrooms. Therefore, it is possible that some trainees might encounter a sink-or-swim situation if they are not able to understand the materials presented during classroom lectures nor execute correct procedures during laboratory sessions with time-intensive training. To address this issue, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) asserts that trainees can increase their performance if instructors can provide the trainees with diversified means of information representation, expression opportunities, and engagement means. However, we lack the framework on how to adapt and integrate the process of evaluating the trainees’ learning styles with the UDL principles, especially in the context of time-intensive tasks such as air traffic control training. In this article, we propose an adapted framework that (1) utilizes the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) based on categories such as perception, input, processing, and understanding, (2) maps the UDL methods with the ILS outcomes, and (3) provides possible approaches to address any issues with the teaching materials. The developed approach might be used to investigate whether and how we could enhance the air traffic trainees’ performances at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy with minimum need to elongate the training time. The proposed approaches were benchmarked with a small group of qualified Aviation students at the University of Oklahoma who are preparing for the FAA training program to see whether we could find ways to support their learning styles given the time and resource constraints. This preliminary research provides a foundation to improve our approaches when we investigate the learning styles of the trainees’ at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy in the near future.

Authors

• Kang, Ziho Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Mattlyn R. Dragoo Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Lauren Yeagle Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Randa L. Shehab Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Han Yuan Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Lei Ding Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Stephen G. West Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Learning Pedagogy
• Universal Design for Learning
• Multimodal Training
• Air Traffic Control
• Training
• Aviation and Space Education
• Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Management and Operations