Universal Design Principles Enhance STEM Student Success by Shifting from Deficit to Abundance Models
Category: User-Centred Design · Effect: Strong effect · Year: 2023
Adopting universal design principles and an abundance model in STEM education can significantly improve student retention and success by addressing diverse learning needs rather than focusing on perceived student deficits.
Design Takeaway
Design learning experiences with the assumption of diversity, rather than designing for a hypothetical 'average' student and then trying to remediate those who don't fit.
Why It Matters
This approach moves away from blaming students for attrition and instead focuses on creating inclusive learning environments. By designing curricula and teaching methods that cater to a wide range of abilities and backgrounds from the outset, institutions can foster a more supportive and effective educational experience for all.
Key Finding
Traditional teaching methods often fail diverse students by focusing on their perceived weaknesses. Universal design and abundance models, however, create learning environments that proactively support all students, leading to better outcomes.
Key Findings
- The deficit model of teaching and learning contributes to student attrition and negative student experiences.
- Universal design and abundance models offer more inclusive and effective approaches to education.
- Innovative methodologies are needed to support diverse student pathways through STEM curricula.
Research Evidence
Aim: How can universal design principles and an abundance model of teaching and learning be implemented to improve STEM student success and reduce attrition?
Method: Literature review and theoretical framework development
Procedure: The authors critique the 'deficit model' of teaching and learning, which attributes student failure to individual shortcomings. They then propose the adoption of 'universal design' and an 'abundance model' as alternative frameworks, offering strategies for curriculum design and pedagogical approaches that support diverse learners.
Context: Higher education STEM education
Design Principle
Design for the widest possible range of users from the outset, rather than retrofitting accommodations.
How to Apply
When designing educational materials, platforms, or learning activities, consider multiple modes of representation, expression, and engagement to accommodate different learning styles and abilities.
Limitations
The paper is theoretical and does not present empirical data from a specific design intervention.
Student Guide (IB Design Technology)
Simple Explanation: Instead of assuming students are 'bad at science' and trying to fix them, design science classes that are good for everyone from the start, no matter their background or how they learn best.
Why This Matters: Understanding how to design for diverse users is crucial for creating inclusive and effective products and services, leading to broader adoption and user satisfaction.
Critical Thinking: To what extent can the 'abundance model' be applied to non-educational design contexts, and what are the potential challenges in shifting from a 'deficit' to an 'abundance' mindset in product development?
IA-Ready Paragraph: The principles outlined by Brabazon, Quinton, and Hunter (2023) highlight the critical need to move beyond deficit-based approaches in design. By embracing universal design and abundance models, designers can create solutions that are inherently more inclusive and effective for a wider range of users, thereby reducing potential barriers to adoption and success.
Project Tips
- When researching user needs, actively seek out diverse perspectives and avoid making assumptions about a 'typical' user.
- Consider how your design choices might inadvertently exclude certain user groups and proactively address these potential barriers.
How to Use in IA
- Reference this paper when discussing the importance of inclusive design and user research in your design process, particularly when addressing potential user diversity.
Examiner Tips
- Demonstrate an understanding of how design choices can impact different user groups and explain how your design addresses potential inclusivity issues.
Independent Variable: Teaching and learning models (deficit vs. universal design/abundance)
Dependent Variable: Student success and attrition rates
Controlled Variables: Curriculum content, academic qualifications of instructors, institutional resources
Strengths
- Provides a strong theoretical critique of traditional educational models.
- Offers a clear alternative framework (universal design and abundance model) for improving student outcomes.
Critical Questions
- What are the practical challenges in implementing universal design principles in resource-constrained educational settings?
- How can the 'abundance model' be effectively communicated and adopted by educators who are accustomed to deficit-based thinking?
Extended Essay Application
- An Extended Essay could explore the application of universal design principles in a specific STEM field, analyzing existing curricula and proposing improvements based on the abundance model.
Source
Universalizing science literacy: How to transcend deficit models of teaching and learning · International Journal on Research in STEM Education · 2023 · 10.33830/ijrse.v5i2.1224