The "Plus One" strategy revolves around consistently adding one new element, feature, or improvement to your course to continually enhance its quality. Here's how to apply this approach effectively:
- Regular Assessment: Begin by evaluating your course regularly. Identify areas that need improvement or enhancement. This could be based on student feedback, industry updates, technological advancements, or pedagogical changes.
- Identify the "Plus One": Once you've assessed your course, pinpoint one specific aspect you can improve upon. It might be incorporating a new interactive activity, integrating multimedia elements, updating content to reflect current trends, or enhancing accessibility features.
- Plan and Implement: Develop a plan to integrate this "plus one" improvement into your course. Consider how it aligns with your course objectives and how it will benefit your students. Create a timeline for implementation and allocate resources accordingly.
- Evaluate Impact: After implementing the enhancement, assess its impact on the course. Gather feedback from students, monitor engagement metrics, or conduct assessments to gauge the effectiveness of the change.
- Repeat the Process: Once you've evaluated the impact, return to step one and reassess your course. Identify the next "plus one" improvement and continue the cycle of enhancement.
Key Benefits:
- Consistent Improvement: Incremental changes ensure that your course is continually evolving and staying relevant.
- Adaptability: It allows you to adapt to changing educational needs, technological advancements, and student preferences.
- Enhanced Engagement: Adding new elements keeps the course fresh and engaging for learners.
- Manageable Workflow: Focusing on one improvement at a time makes the enhancement process manageable and less overwhelming.
Remember, the "Plus One" strategy isn't about making drastic overhauls but about consistent, incremental improvements that collectively enhance the overall learning experience in your course.
Resources:
UDL Awareness Month: the Plus One Approach - Langara College
"Plus-One" Thinking: A Framework for Inclusive Teaching - University of Texas Austin