Implementing Universal Design: Prioritize interactions with the plus-one approach

Overwhelmed and do not know where to start implementing Universal Design or Universal Design for Learning principles? Learn about the ‘plus-one’ approach to help you to apply UD frameworks by breaking barriers and challenges down into more manageable pieces.

The plus-one approach

The plus-one approach is a model for prioritizing expanding alternate media modes, additional learner choices, and alternate modes of engagement to interactions.

1. Identify your pinch points
   • student question patterns
   • where things go not as planned i.e. assignments and assessments
   • more explanation needed than provided
   • single stream or mode of materials
2. Identify plus-one strategies to address pinch points
   • one way to keep learner on task
   • one more way to provide information
   • one more way to demonstrate skills
3. Reflect and Prioritize
   • Consider available tools,
   • knowledge base,
   • time and bandwidth,
   • patters of opportunity,
   • and scope of work

Task

1. Identify 3-6 pinch points
2. Identify strategies to address the pinch points
3. Scope and rank what can be achieved

Resources

• Pinch point matrix worksheet (Word)
• Pinch point matrix worksheet (PDF)

References

Meyer, A., Rose, D., Gordon, D. (2014). Universal Design for Learning: Theory and practice. CAST Professional Publishing.
Tobin, T. & Behling, K. (2018). Reach everyone, teach everyone: Universal Design for Learning