Historical Review of Distance and Online Education from 1700s to 2021 in the United States
accessibility . In this same year , CAST introduced principles for Universal Design for Learning to the Council for Exceptional Children ( CAST , n . d . a ). In 2011 , UDL principles 2.0 were released with new language and checkpoints ( CAST , n . d . a ). UDL principles build upon the “ fields of neuroscience , the Learning Sciences , and cognitive psychology ” ( CAST , n . d . b , para . 2 ) and provide a “ framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn ” ( CAST , n . d . c , para . 1 ). UDL principles focus on engaging the affective , recognition , and strategic brain networks through multiple means of engagement ( why ), recognition ( what ), and action and expression ( how ). According to Tobin and Behling ( 2019 ):
Universal Design for Learning is a mind-set that is grounded in evidence-based practice . UDL has been tested for decades , in physical classrooms and online learning environments , at two-year colleges and research universities , across all kinds of subjects , curricula , and teaching methods . ( pp . 285-286 )
UDL principles may be integrated into instructional design for online course development ( Shi , 2018 ). UDL principles may also be integrated into professional development since they support teaching and learning across all environments from face-to-face to blended and online .
Learning Sciences
The Learning Sciences is a relatively new interdisciplinary field , dating back to 1991 ( Sawyer , 2008 ). The Learning Sciences encompass teaching and learning within formal learning settings , such as school classrooms , as well as informal learning settings , such as work , distance and online learning , clubs , and centers . According to Sawyer ( 2008 ):
The goal of the Learning Sciences is to better understand the cognitive and social processes that result in the most effective learning , and to use this knowledge to redesign classrooms and other learning environments so that people learn more deeply and more effectively . The sciences of learning include cognitive science , educational psychology , computer science , anthropology , sociology , information sciences , neurosciences , education , design studies , instructional design , and other fields . ( p . 2 )
Learning scientists often employ a variety of approaches and methods to understand and enhance learning and teaching ( Luckin & Cukurova , 2019 ; Nathan & Sawyer , 2014 ). Hence , the Learning Sciences provide valuable information on various interdisciplinary factors affecting learning and how learners interact with technologies across different instructional formats .
Specifically , for technology-rich online learning environments , Learning Sciences principles have valuable applications . A study conducted by
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