James D. Basham

James D Basham
  • Professor

Contact Info

Department Phone:
785-864-4954
Joseph R. Pearson Hall

Personal Links

Biography —

James D. Basham, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. He is also the Senior Director for Learning & Innovation at CAST a Boston based research and development non-profit and founders of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Dr. Basham is also one of the cofounders of the UDL Implementation and Research Network (UDL-IRN) a global network of educators, education leaders, researchers, and industry leaders focused on supporting the design of UDL based learning environments. His work is focused on developing future-ready learning environments that are equitable, beneficial, and meaningful for all learners. His research is focused on the implementation of UDL, STEM education, learner-centered design, innovation, and technology in human learning. He is currently a principal investigator on a number federally and privately funded research and technical assistance projects, including the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL). He has served as a consultant for school districts, universities, regional and national education agencies, foundations, and corporate entities. He is well-published, has given hundreds of talks, and serves on various national and international boards for journals, companies, and education organizations.

Education —

Educational Psychology & Special Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005

Research —

Research interests:

  • Universal Design for Learning
  • Instructional Design and Technology
  • STEM Education
  • Innovation

Teaching —

Teaching interests:

  • Universal Design for Learning
  • Instructional Design and Technology
  • STEM Education
  • Innovation

Selected Publications —

Basham, J. D., Stahl, W., Ortiz, K., Rice, M., & Smith, S. (2015). Equity matters: Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities. (J. Basham & W. Stahl, Eds.) [Reports].
Smith, S., & Basham, J. D. (2014). Designing online learning opportunities for students with disabilities. [Journal Articles]. Teaching Exceptional Children, 1–11.
Marino, M. T., Becht, K., Vasquez, E. G., Gallup, J. L., Basham, J. D., & Gallegos, B. (2014). Enhancing secondary science content accessibility with video games. [Journal Articles]. Teaching Exceptional Children, 47, 27–34.
Harvey, D., Greer, D., Basham, J., & Hu, B. (2014). From the student perspective: Experiences of middle and high school students in online learning. [Journal Articles]. American Journal of Distance Education. , 28, 14–26.
Marino, M. T., Gotch, C. M., Vasquez, E., Basham, J. D., & Becht, K. (2014). UDL in the middle school science classroom: Can video games and alternative text heighten engagement and learning for students with learning disabilities? [Journal Articles]. Learning Disabilities Quarterly. Published.
Israel, M., Marino, M. T., Basham, J. D., & Spivak, W. (2013). Fifth graders as app designers: How diverse learns conceptualize education apps. [Journal Articles]. Journal of Research on Technology Education, 46(1), 53–80.
Basham, J. D., Smith, S. J., Greer, D. L., & Marino, M. T. (2013). The scaled arrival of K-12 online education: Emerging realities and implications for the future of education. [Journal Articles]. Journal of Education, 193(2), 51–59.
Basham, J. D., & Marino, M. T. (2013). Understanding STEM education and supporting students with universal design for learning. [Journal Articles]. Teaching Exceptional Children, 45(4), 8–15.
Haydon, T., Hawkins, R., Basham, J., Denune, H., Kimener, L., & McCoy, D. (2012). A comparison of iPads and worksheets on math skills of 9th grade students with emotional disorders. [Journal Articles]. Behavioral Disorders, 37(4), 232–243.
Carnahan, C., Basham, J. D., Christman, J., & Hollingshead, A. (2012). Overcoming challenges: Going mobile with your own video models. [Journal Articles]. Teaching Exceptional Children, 45(2), 50–59.
Marino, M. T., Israel, M., Beecher, C. C., & Basham, J. D. (2012). Students’ and teachers’ perceptions of using videogames to enhance science instruction. [Journal Articles]. Journal of Science Education and Technology [10590145], 22(5), 667–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-012-9421-9
Lowrey, K. A., Basham, J. D., Gardner, J. E., & Jones, M. (2011). Computer-mediated collaboration: Using the web to contextualize representational issues in general and special education practice [Book Chapters]. In E. D. McCray, P. A. McHatton, & C. L. Beverly (Eds.), Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions for Culturally Competent and Intercultural Sensitive Leaders in Education (pp. 202–233). CEC Teacher Education Division.
Basham, J. D., Koehler, C., & Israel, M. (2011). Creating a “STEM for all” environment [Book Chapters]. In C. Johnson (Ed.), Secondary STEM Education Reform (Secondary Education in the Changing World) (pp. 1–25). Palgrave Macmillan.
Basham, J. D., Perry, E., & Meyer, H. (2011). It’s in the Bag: Digital Backpacks for Project-Based Learning [Journal Articles]. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39(2), 24–27.

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

Teen Career Pathway (Phase II). 1660018. National Science Foundation. $750000.00. (3/5/2017 - 2/28/2019). Partnered with The Social Express through the National Science Foundation (SBIR) to develop and study a series of video games that support Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career exposure and planning. The investigation studies usability and efficacy through a unique backend of learning analytic data system.. Federal. Status: Funded. Primary Evaluator/Researcher for the Research and Development Team.