Design for Deeper Understanding and Transfer

Students learn best when new ideas connect to what they already know and when they have multiple ways to demonstrate understanding. Designing for deeper learning means helping students recognize patterns, make meaning, and apply concepts beyond a single assignment or class session. Neurodiversity reminds us that learners process information through different pathways, including pattern recognition, storytelling, visualization, discussion, and hands-on practice. When you design courses that help students build meaningful connections between concepts, apply knowledge in varied contexts, and transfer learning beyond the classroom, you're inherently making your courses more accessible.  

Do one thing

Choose one design to encourage deeper understanding and transfer

• Begin lessons with “What do you already know?” or “How does this connect to your experience?”
• Use visuals, diagrams, or analogies to show relationships between ideas.
• Encourage multiple ways of summarizing (outline, concept map, podcast reflection).
• Invite students to share real-world examples from work, culture, or community.
• End each module with an “apply it” or “transfer it” prompt linking learning to new contexts.

When learning is connected, practiced in varied ways, and applied to authentic contexts, it sticks and travels with students far beyond your course. These small design choices help students move from memorization to meaning-making, building confidence in their ability to use knowledge flexibly. By supporting knowledge transfer, we empower learners to carry insights forward into future courses, careers, and communities.

Reach out to your local Center for Teaching and Learning and to the College Digital Accessibility Committees for tools, techniques, and support in sharing the work across courses and departments.