The trainee will apply the following principles of “backward planning” to course or unit design outlined in Understanding by Design:
Step 1: Identify Desired Results
What should students know, understand, and be able to do?
What content is worthy of understanding?
What enduring understandings are desired?
At this stage, define:
the major objectives of the course (unit or lesson)
the “big ideas”
what students should know and understand about these ideas
what skills students should develop
what students should eventually be able to do with their knowledge and skills
Step 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence
How will we know if students have achieved the desired results?
What will we accept as evidence of student understanding and proficiency?
At this stage, decide:
What types of assessment and what performance tasks will demonstrate students’ understanding of the big ideas?
How will you judge whether students have met learning objectives? What criteria will you use? (Consider creating a rubric to make this transparent to students and make grading easier.)
What other evidence might be used to assess students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills?
How will students reflect on and assess their own learning?
Step 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
How will we support learners as they come to understand important ideas and processes?
How will we prepare them to autonomously transfer their learning?
What enabling knowledge and skills will students need to perform effectively and achieve desired results?
What activities, sequence, and resources are best suited to accomplish our goals?
At this stage, consider how the design will:
W = Help the students know Where the unit is going and What is expected. Help the teacher know Where the students are coming from (prior knowledge, interests).
H = Hook all students and Hold their interest?
E = Equip students, help them Experience the key ideas and Explore the issues?
R = Provide opportunities to Rethink and Revise their understandings and work?
E = Allow students to Evaluate their work and its implications
T = Be Tailored (personalized) to the different needs, interests, and abilities of learners
O = Be Organized to maximize initial and sustained engagement as well as effective learning
- Hours number/days: 5
- Target audience: Teachers and school leaders
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