Any Student, Any Classroom: Removing Barriers to Learning
Any Student, Any Classroom is a growing collection of workshops and other resources designed to equip instructors with the necessary tools to identify and remove barriers to learning for all students. Topics include creating accessible learning materials, using learning technologies in a way that provides robust access for all learners and assistive devices; teaching across educational, cultural, and language differences with international students; supporting wellness and belonging; and more, as knowledge of barriers and needs emerges.
The goals of these workshops and resources are to:
- Build awareness of common barriers to learning for Cornell students.
- Provide practical, research-based strategies, grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and accessibility, in order to identify and lessen these barriers.
To meet the differing needs and schedules of faculty, workshops will be offered at multiple times of the week, in various formats, and at different times throughout the academic year. As faculty interests and trending discussions in higher education evolve, this collection will continue to expand with new topics and flexible learning options.
Upcoming Events
August
Why Is My Canvas Ally Score So Low?
When: Friday, August 15, 2025, from 10:00–11:00 a.m., on Zoom. Register for Why Is My Canvas Ally Score So Low?
- Description: Are you wondering why your Canvas Ally score is still so low? Join our workshop to uncover the most common accessibility issues in course materials. You'll learn how Ally identifies barriers — such as formatting problems that affect access, engagement, and compatibility with assistive technologies — and discover simple, effective strategies to improve your scores and move closer to a barrier-free learning environment.
Why Is My Canvas Ally Score So Low?
When: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 10:00–11:00 a.m., on Zoom. Register for Why Is My Canvas Ally Score So Low?
- Description: Are you wondering why your Canvas Ally score is still so low? Join our workshop to uncover the most common accessibility issues in course materials. You'll learn how Ally identifies barriers — such as formatting problems that affect access, engagement, and compatibility with assistive technologies — and discover simple, effective strategies to improve your scores and move closer to a barrier-free learning environment.
September
Remove Barriers to Learning: What If Your Course Worked for Every Student?
- When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 3:00–4:15 p.m., in person. Register for Remove Barriers to Learning: What If Your Course Worked for Every Student? This workshop is also offered on 9/19 (Zoom) and covers the same content.
- Description: Supporting students through accommodation letters is important, but what if you could reduce the need for individual requests? Join us to explore strategies for removing learning barriers in your course by applying the Universal Design for Learning framework. You'll gain insights into the range of learning needs in your classroom, develop communication strategies to support all students, and identify ways to reduce barriers in your course.
Remove Barriers to Learning: What If Your Course Worked for Every Student?
- When: Friday, September 19, 2025, from 10:00–11:15 a.m., on Zoom. Register for Remove Barriers to Learning: What If Your Course Worked for Every Student? This workshop is also offered on 9/10 (in person) and covers the same content.
- Description: Supporting students through accommodation letters is important, but what if you could reduce the need for individual requests? Join us to explore strategies for removing learning barriers in your course by applying the Universal Design for Learning framework. You'll gain insights into the range of learning needs in your classroom, develop communication strategies to support all students, and identify ways to reduce barriers in your course.
October
What Should be Graded? Authentic and Bias-Resistant Assessment Practices
- When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 2:30–4:00 p.m., in person. Register for What Should be Graded? Authentic and Bias-Resistant Assessment Practices. This workshop is also offered on 10/31 (Zoom) and covers the same content.
- Description: In this workshop, explore a framework for designing accurate, bias-resistant, and motivating grading systems and assessments that encourage your students to learn from their mistakes and take responsibility for their learning. Examine how bias typically shows up in course policies and grading practices and discuss how to measure learning in your course considering authentic assessments and alternatives to traditional exams.
What Should be Graded? Authentic and Bias-Resistant Assessment Practices
- When: Friday, October 31, 2025, from 12:00–1:30 p.m., on Zoom. Register for What Should be Graded? Authentic and Bias-Resistant Assessment Practices. This workshop is also offered on 10/22 (in person) and covers the same content.
- Description: In this workshop, explore a framework for designing accurate, bias-resistant, and motivating grading systems and assessments that encourage your students to learn from their mistakes and take responsibility for their learning. Examine how bias typically shows up in course policies and grading practices and discuss how to measure learning in your course considering authentic assessments and alternatives to traditional exams.
November
Engaging and Supporting International Students in the Classroom
- When: Wednesday, November 5,2025, from 3:00–4:30 p.m., in person. Register for Engaging and Supporting International Students in the Classroom.
- Description: In this workshop we will discuss the ways that culture and language may impact a student's experience in the classroom. We will explore strategies that promote engagement, equity, and deeper learning for international students, especially those who speak English as an additional language.