{"id":23409,"date":"2025-06-20T14:02:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T04:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au\/teaching@sydney\/?p=23409"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:14:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T03:14:56","slug":"from-reactive-to-intentional-the-impact-and-opportunity-of-the-proactive-design-intensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au\/teaching@sydney\/from-reactive-to-intentional-the-impact-and-opportunity-of-the-proactive-design-intensive\/","title":{"rendered":"From Reactive to Intentional: The Impact and Opportunity of the Proactive Design Intensive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transpa<\/span>rent, inclusive, and intention<\/span>al course design is no longer a \u201cnice to have\u201d\u2014it\u2019s essential. As university classrooms become more diverse<\/a> and student needs more complex, educators must move beyond reactive fixes to proactively designing for inclusion from the start<\/a>. The <\/span>Proactive Design Intensive<\/span><\/i> (PDI) was created to do just that: empower academics to innovate with purpose, anticipate diverse learning needs, and transform educational practices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the PDI?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Proactive Design Intensive<\/span><\/i> is a hands-on, immersive, two-to-three-day workshop led by the Division of Teaching and Learning. Hosted in person, the PDI supports academics in (re)designing course elements to better serve all learners. It combines Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles<\/a> with expert guidance, peer collaboration, and dedicated design time. The 2024 and 2025 iterations of PDI we held demonstrated how intentional design leads to more effective teaching and a better student experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants bring a clear project\u2014be it refining assessments, developing inclusive learning activities, or aligning outcomes and rubrics\u2014and leave with actionable plans, renewed motivation, and concrete outcomes. From using AI responsibly in assessments to embedding interactive video quizzes, participants are empowered to make meaningful changes that go well beyond compliance checkboxes.<\/span> To evaluate the impact of PDI on students, w<\/span>e also offer follow up<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0through informal catch ups, surveys and focus\u00a0<\/span>group<\/span>s.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Why applying UDL to Design for Diversity?<\/h2>\n

Designing for diversity isn’t about creating one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about <\/span>anticipating<\/i><\/strong> different ways that students engage, learn, and demonstrate understanding<\/strong>. The PDI reframes inclusion not as a set of accommodations, but as a design strategy that benefits everyone. Participants consistently say they walk away from the PDI with a better understanding of how to meet shared learning needs across diverse student cohorts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As one academic shared in an anonymous feedback survey, <\/span><\/p>\n

I was able to clarify and focus my thinking around not just UDL principles<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in general but the\u00a0<\/span>particular cohort<\/span>\u00a0and their needs.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2014<\/span> Participant survey, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n

By building flexibility and clarity into course design, educators reduce confusion, cognitive overload, and student disengagement, making learning more accessible and empowering for all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Success stories from the PDI\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to 2024<\/span>\u00a0and 2025<\/span> anonymous participant surveys<\/span><\/span>, participants experience the PDI as transformative, not just in concept but in practice. Academics appreciated the dedicated time, the support from Educational Designers, and the immediate, tangible outcomes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The workshop was an absolutely wonderful experience that developed not only the specific task\/unit I was working on during the two days but will have significant longer-term impacts on my teaching practices<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2014<\/span>\u00a0Participant survey, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n

Another participant remarked on how the PDI helped reduce anxiety and provide structure:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I walked in feeling overwhelmed and unsure. I walked out with clarity, a solid plan, and real progress I could be proud of.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2014<\/span>\u00a0Participant survey, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n

Educational Designers echoed this sentiment, noting that the PDI format allowed for deeper, more meaningful collaboration than traditional consultations. One designer described it as \u201ca space to ask powerful questions, and to really think through the answers in a structured, supportive environment.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Community of Practice\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the most important outcomes of the PDI has been the sense of community it fosters. For example, one participant appreciated<\/span>\u00a0how \u201c<\/span>hear[<\/span>ing<\/span>] what other people\u2019s challenges were and their solutions […] really added to the experience and learning.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Many participants continue connecting after the workshop, forming networks of support across faculties. Whether sharing ideas or troubleshooting challenges, these connections help sustain momentum and encourage continued innovation.<\/span> These connections move beyond our university as the program has gained national and international recognition at <\/span>UDL-Con in 2024<\/span>, UDL Symposium in 2024 and 2025, and HERDSA in 2025. P<\/span>revious<\/span>\u00a0p<\/span>articipants have opportunities to share outcomes in conferences, symposium<\/span>, Teaching at Sydney articles<\/span>\u00a0but also\u00a0<\/span>through<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>So<\/span>TL<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>research,\u00a0<\/span>showcasing<\/span>\u00a0academic excellence.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What’s next? Two opportunities in 2026<\/h2>\n

Following the success of previous rounds, the PDI will return in 2026 with two iterations:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n