Universal Design for Learning

ɫɜUniversal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.ɫɝ
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Get Started with the "Plus-One Approach"

In their book, Thomas Tobin and Kirsten Behling discuss the Plus-One Approach for implementing UDL:

Having taught your exsisting courses repreatedly offers you one big advantage when it comes to adopting UDL methods: historical data. Think back and identify the places where your exsisting students bog down. 

  • Where do they always have questions?
  • Where do they always get things wrong on tests or assignments?
  • Where do they always ask for explanations in a different way from the one you provided?

Select these exsisting pinch points and adopt the plus-one approach at each point.

(Tobin and Behling, 2018)

The plus-one approach can be added to any interaction between the student and the learning environment, either with the instructor, other students or the materials. 

  • In addition to providing a recording of your lecture allow students to download a transcipt of the recording.
  • In addition to student submitting a written response to requried reading allow them to submit an audio recording.
  • In addition to providing student written feedback on assignment ask if they would prefer to have feedback in the form of audio or video. 
  • In addition to fielding student questions in class allow students to submit questions in a digital space such as your LMS.  

Next Steps

Consider meeting with a member of the UDL team to discuss ways to integrate UDL principles into your current teacing practices or develop new strategies to account for learner variability. For more information please contact Zachary Adams at adams@hope.edu.

Additional Resources


  • Summer 2021 virtual workshop through Hope College

  • Summer 2020 virtual workshop through Hope College

  • Moodle UDL Blog Series

  • Vanderbilt Center for Teaching 

  • UMass Amherst Center for Teaching & Learning 

  • The K. Patricia Cross Academy