Gabrielle Coombs
Learning Designer
gabrielle.coombs@ubc.ca | 604.822.6333
Main “Big Picture” Responsibilities at LDDI
The biggest part of my role at LDDI is learning design. I work extensively within the Early Childhood program, the MEd in Literacy Education program, French immersion cohorts and other courses within the faculty. This work requires deep thinking about assessment, content delivery and learning technologies, and how to ensure these aspects of learning experiences are equitable, inclusive and push to de-colonize education.
I collaborate with my other LDDI colleagues on projects, workshops and learning design work. I also engage with the broader UBC community, having collaborated with the Emerging Media Lab on the AAC Simulator project, and being part of the 2024 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Fellows program alongside Dr. Laurie Ford for the Early Childhood Program. I also co-chair the Faculty of Education’s Accessibility Working Group with Dr. Surita Jhangiani.
Day-to-Day Tasks at LDDI
My day-to-day work involves collaborating with faculty in the design of courses, pushing for accessible design that meets the needs of all learners. This involves learner-centered approaches, and engaging, intuitive designs for online learning. I also answer queries from instructors about Canvas, learning technologies and accessibility issues.
Specific areas of interest in the field of Educational Technology
I am deeply passionate about accessibility particularly for learners with disabilities, and for learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds. My previous experience as an EAL teacher, and working within the disability sector, has made me particularly passionate about ensuring equity and functionality of access for all learners. My focus on UDL’s guiding principles, and experience with teaching learners of diverse abilities, language levels and walks of life, have had a huge impact on how I approach my work at LDDI.
Credentials
2021 Graduate Certificate in Learning Design – University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
2020 Graduate Certificate in Education and Digital Learning – University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
2016 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) – UTS Insearch, Sydney, Australia
2016 Double Bachelor of Arts in Communications and International Studies – University of Technology, Sydney, Australia