Overcoming Learning Gaps and Building Transferability Skills in a Higher Education Math Course

Abstract

The “unfinished learning” resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has led high school graduates to remain unprepared for college courses in the post-pandemic era. The “unaddressed consequences” of this academic “deficit” can create financial losses both for the individual as well as the economy at large. The impact on the US economy could manifest in the form of slower economic growth and loss of GDP amounting to approximately USD 150 billion by 2040. Personal ramifications could result in a lifetime of accrued income loss for employees and workers. This research considers the application of Universal Design for learning (UDL) combined with technology in a Foundation Math course for helping students bridge the learning gap and successfully complete the course. Technology-driven UDL application can enhance the learning experience by encouraging the development of transferable skills (in preparation for future jobs), provide choices of representation of learning materials to students and provide students with a choice of expression in areas of assessment. Teamwork and presentation with technology based UDL framework can develop a student’s lifelong transferable skills for future jobs.