A choice between textbooks?
One universal design strategy related to course content is to offer students a choice
between two textbooks that both cover the desired content. This is feasible in a course
whose learning activities do not depend on students reading the same exact material or
doing the same problem sets from the textbook.
It is critical that you, the instructor, have clear learning objectives mapped out for the
course; you will then be able to assess whether there are different textbooks that give
students access to the information they will need to fulfill those objectives.
One advantage of textbook choice is that students will be more likely to read and benefit
from the book they have chosen in accordance with their own needs, priorities, and
preferences. Also, when students using different textbooks collaborate on learning
activities such as discussions or problems, they will bring a greater diversity of
information and perspectives to the table.
Example:
Option A offers lots of visuals, graphics, sidebars, interactive website, and other
interesting features, but goes into less depth on each topic than Option B. Who might
prefer this text?
non-majors taking the course as an elective;
students with a heavy credit load or substantial nonacademic
responsibilities that limit their time for reading;
those who prefer visual presentations of information;
students with attention deficit disorder or other challenges to attention
from lack of sleep, medication side effects, or mental health issues.
Option B has more pages and consists mostly of dense text, with few visual elements.
It explores each topic in great detail and contains many citations to the literature. It is
also available as an audio book. Who might prefer this text?
students majoring in the discipline or with a keen interest in the subject;
students who like access to detailed information and a full picture of a
given area;
those who prefer linguistic to visual presentations of information
those who have a disability that interferes with their access to printed text
(e.g., blindness, low vision, dyslexia);
students who commute and want to listen to the book as they drive.