Getting to Know Your Learners

What is Learner Variability and Why is it Relevant?

A well-designed course brings digital learning to life for a diverse student population and creates a truly inclusive online learning community. An important first step in achieving this is to determine who your learners are and consider how learner variability may impact your course design. According to Barbara Pape, "Learner variability is a term to describe all students who enter the classroom and bring with them a unique constellation of abilities and experiences that matter when it comes to learning" (Pape, 2018) Links to an external site.. Not everyone learns or processes information in the same manner thus it's important that effective course design strategies are put in place to address the learner variability of your students while also breaking down possible barriers to learning.

Group Work <Replace -  Institution Name> Students at a Glance 

<Replace -  Institution Name>  supports a wide variety of learners across courses in all of their modalities. In the spring semester of 2024, <Replace -  Institution Name>  enrolled a total of XXXXX students. Below, you'll find an infographic that explores the various characteristics of all of our learners.

NOTE:  Your institution might use an image of the giving information about your institution's student enrollment, student classifications (transfers, first generation, online students).  Information about student use of Student Accessibility Services and the student ethnicity breakdown also could be shared. 

-Insert_image_here--1.svg.png

It is important to note that issues of equity, diversity, and inclusivity are not limited to race, gender, or sexual orientation but include various other considerations such as age, social status, religious affiliation, primary language, personality, and more (Brookfield, 2015). Though you may not know the precise characteristics of your class before you design your course, having a general understanding of the UCF student population will allow you to design courses that not only acknowledge the diversity in your class but also promote a connection with your students while bridging any gaps that may exist. This helps to build that inclusive online learning community that is so important to student learning.

InfoDiverse and Inclusive Teaching

Your course design can promote an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for your students. Students' individual experiences and backgrounds impact their learning, motivation, and overall course satisfaction and experience (Sneed, 2016 Links to an external site.). For an inclusive learning environment, instructors need to consider the diverse nature of the students they teach to ensure students are engaged. Students' disengagement in a course can be connected to religion, physical abilities, race, culture, language, perspective, experiences, learning preferences, and other reasons. In many situations, instructors will not be able to assist directly with some of these barriers to engagement; however, creating an atmosphere of support will be the first step toward inclusion.  

InfoLitStrategies and Tools to Develop Inclusive Learner-Centered Courses

  • Create a student information survey (quiz tool) to get to know your students and tap into their backgrounds, cultures, and existing knowledge. 
  • Present content in a variety of formats (including an instructor video introduction and include the video transcript) to allow for student preference.
  • Provide assignment options to facilitate student choice (e.g., for one assignment students could be given a choice to write a paper including the pertinent, create a PowerPoint presentation including the pertinent information, or create a video including the pertinent information).
  • Build upon the varied and personal experiences your students bring into your classroom and online course.
  • Review content and assignments to ensure that they consider diverse student populations (e.g., use culturally sensitive language).
  • Identify socio-economic impacts, barriers, or challenges that may affect (or may affect) your learners.

Please note the lists are not exhaustive, and there are many more facilitation strategies and tools at your disposal. Consider referring to the Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository for more research-based, instructional practices.