The Effects of Universal Design for Learning on Puberty Sex Education

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Eighteen
  In Roundtable Session: Writing and Learning Across the Content Areas in Special and Inclusive Education (Table 14)

Abstract

Sex education is often provided by public health experts that are contracted with schools to provide drop-in instruction. Using community-based participatory research (CBPR), we examined the effects of using universal design for learning (UDL) to better meet students’ needs. Thirty-one schools were randomly assigned to receive a standard or UDL versions of a four-day puberty lesson. Using a two-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), we identified students who received the UDL version had a greater sense of self-competence but no significant difference in knowledge when controlling for the school’s average knowledge at Time 1. There was not a differential effect for students in schools receiving Title 1 funding. Educators felt they had greater participation when using UDL but experience technological challenges.

Authors

• Sarah L. Curtiss, University of Delaware
  Presenting Author

• Melissa Stoffers, University of Delaware
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy Brown, University of Delaware
  Non-Presenting Author

• Philinda Mindler, Children & Families First
  Non-Presenting Author