Faculty perceptions of the impact of professional development on online teaching practices

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a global shift toward online education, underscoring the need for quality faculty professional development to support educators in designing and delivering effective online courses. This study explores the impact of professional development utilizing the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework on faculty's pedagogical practices in online learning environments. The Online Teaching Fellows Program, a 14-week professional development series, engaged 20 graduate and undergraduate university faculty members from diverse disciplines (Engineering, Education, Law, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Humanities, Social Science, Business, and Criminal Justice) in a collaborative exploration of UDL principles to create authentic and equitable learning experiences. Qualitative data collection included interviews, exit tickets, faculty professional development artifacts (CANVAS course sites), and researcher notes. Faculty were introduced to diverse teaching strategies, including effective online information presentation, collaboration facilitation, and online assessment enhancement. The study underscores the potential of UDL principles to promote equitable educational opportunities and create transformative spaces in higher education globally.