Patchogue- Medford UbD Curriculum Group
Understanding by Design Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe What is backward design?
Understanding by Design Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe “This book provides a conceptual framework, design process and template, and an accompanying set of design standards.” “It offers a way to design or redesign any curriculum to make student understanding more likely.”
Wiggins & McTighe, p. 10 Worth being familiar with. Important to know and do. Enduring UnderstandingUnderstanding.
Perspective Interpretation ExplanationApplication Empathy Self- Knowledge Enduring Understanding has Six Facets Wiggins & McTighe, Chapter 3
Suggests a planning sequence with three stages: Identify desired results Determine acceptable evidence Plan learning experiences and instruction the Backward Design DesignProcess…
Curriculum Designing versus Classroom Planning (and Classroom Management).
Understanding by Design Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe Stage One: Identify desired results What overarching understandings are desired? What are the overarching essential questions? What will students understand as a result of this unit or lesson? What essential and unit/lesson questions will focus this unit/lesson?
Understanding by Design Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe Stage Two: Determine acceptable evidence What evidence will show that students understand? Performance tasks Projects Quizzes Tests Academic prompts Other evidence…observations, work samples, dialogues Student self-assessment
Understanding by Design Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe Stage Three: Plan learning experiences and instruction What knowledge and skills are needed? What teaching and learning experiences will equip students to demonstrate the targeted understandings? Now the activities can be developed!
Learning experiences and activities should evolve after identifying desired results and determining acceptable evidence.
Grant Wiggins is fond of quoting Mae West: Backward design takes time and should be planned for when time is available. Grant Wiggins says plan on one well-designed “gourmet” lesson per year when you start and seek the support of colleagues. “If it is worth doing, it is worth doing slowly.”
New York State Academy of Teaching and Learning