Designing Interactive Classrooms: Collaborative Learning and UDL Strategies for Grades 3–12, Bry, Spring 2026

Course Number:	EDX 5710
Instructor:	Ashley Bry, M.Ed.
Location:	Asynchronous Online
Dates and Times:	Apr 27 - Jun 08, 2026
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	$1,195

Course Description

This course explores evidence-based strategies for engaging students in active, student-centered learning across grades 3–12. Participants will examine techniques for fostering meaningful student talk, partner and small-group collaboration, and station-based instruction, with a focus on creating inclusive, equitable, and interactive classroom environments. Through analysis of research, practical examples, and peer collaboration, educators will reflect on their current practice and design actionable strategies to increase student agency and engagement.

Audience: Grades 3-12 educators with a Bachelor's Degree

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

To implement Student-Centered Learning
To apply strategies that shift instruction from teacher-led to student-centered.
To facilitate meaningful student interaction.
To design and lead activities that encourage productive talk, collaboration, and peer learning in whole-class, small-group, and partner settings.

Course Objectives:

To develop and implement lessons that shift the classroom from teacher-led to student-centered.
To promote student engagement, agency, and choice.
To employ strategies to increase meaningful talk, collaboration, and peer learning in whole-class, small-group, and partner activities.
To explore station-based instruction

Course Schedule

Weeks 1-5: Exploring the reasons for student-centered learning, Designing speaking tasks, Implementing whole class, small group and partner activities, Creating a station rotation lesson.

Week 6: Final Project

Instructor

Ashley Bry, M.Ed. in Teaching English Learners

Ashley has taught English and Spanish Language for the past 18 years. Ashley currently teaches Multilingual students and Spanish at Essex High School. She spends a lot of the school day supporting English language students to access mainstream curriculum and she knows that vocabulary instruction is a key component to helping all students find success in all classrooms. Her experience in world language instruction and teaching language acquisition helps to recognize essential vocabulary across contents that students need to be able to access to be able to show what they know.

Required Readings/Resources

Costs for required readings/resources, if any, are not included in the course cost.

Finley, T. (2024, December 6). 16 Variations on Think-Pair-Share to Keep Students Engaged. Edutopia; George Lucas Educational Foundation. https://www.edutopia.org/article/think-pair-share-variations-16-ways-up-your-game/

‌Wagner, K. (2024, May 21). 12 Shifts to Move from Teacher-Led to Student-Centered Environments. Getting Smart. https://www.gettingsmart.com/2024/05/21/12-shifts-to-move-from-teacher-led-to-student-centered-environments/

‌Heal, J. (2023, January 5). Balancing Teacher-Led Instruction and Student-Centered Learning. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/teacher-led-instruction-student-centered-learning/

‌TEDx Talks. (2024, July 26). Education Reimagined: Student-led Learning | Dr. Catlin Tucker | TEDxFolsom. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTHBdIeV-8o

‌Miller, M. (2022, March 24). Station rotation: Save time, engage students in any K-12 classroom. Ditch That Textbook. https://ditchthattextbook.com/station-rotation/

For additional course information

Ashley Bry
(802) 779-3867

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325