Understanding By Design

01'Understanding by Design: A Backward Approach to Curriculum Planning'

Ever been on a road trip without a map? You might end up taking a few wrong turns, getting lost, or even worse, never reaching your destination. Now, imagine teaching a class without a clear plan. The same chaos can ensue. This is where 'Understanding by Design' (UbD) and the 'Backward Design Process' come into play. They serve as the roadmap for educators, guiding them to their desired destination - student understanding. UbD is a framework that flips traditional teaching on its head. Instead of starting with the textbook and planning lessons around what's in it, UbD encourages teachers to start with the end in mind. It's not just about memorizing facts or procedures, but about understanding the big ideas or concepts in a subject. It's about teaching for understanding, not just knowledge recall. Now, let's dive into the heart of UbD - the Backward Design Process. Picture a sculptor chiseling away at a block of marble. They don't start without a vision of what they want to create. They have an end result in mind, and every chip of the chisel brings them closer to that vision. Similarly, in the Backward Design Process, educators start with the end in mind. They first identify the desired results or learning outcomes, then work backward to plan learning activities and assessments that align with these outcomes. Identifying desired results is like setting the GPS for our educational road trip. These outcomes should reflect what students should understand, know, and be able to do. They should align with the big ideas or concepts in the subject, serving as the destination we want our students to reach. Once we've set our destination, we need to determine how we'll know when we've arrived. This is where determining acceptable evidence comes in. We need to decide what types of assessments and evidence will show us that students have reached the desired understanding. These assessments should be valid, reliable, and fair, providing meaningful feedback to both the teacher and the student. Finally, we plan the journey - the learning experiences. These should support students in achieving the desired results. They should engage students with the big ideas or concepts, helping them to make sense of what they're learning and see its relevance to their lives. In conclusion, 'Understanding by Design' and the 'Backward Design Process' are powerful tools in curriculum planning. They ensure that teaching is focused on understanding, not just knowledge recall. They guide us in setting clear goals, measuring progress towards these goals, and planning engaging and effective learning experiences. So, next time you're planning a lesson, remember to start with the end in mind. It's the surest way to reach your destination.