1. Understanding by Design
Overview

2. Tutorial Goals
Become aware that Understanding by Design is a philosophy.
Understand the concept of teacher as instructional designer.
Understand the “Big Idea” concept of instructional design.
Demonstrate knowledge of the three stage design process.

3. Backwards Design as a Philosophy
Know where your going
Covering Content vs. Uncovering Content
Planning Instruction Around “Big Ideas”

4. Coverage vs. Uncoverage
A shift in philosophy from covering content to uncovering content
Teacher focused to student focused
Using a textbook as the teaching model to using it as one of many resources.
Knowledge is something used to demonstrate understanding.

5. Frame Learning Around “Big Ideas”
What learning is essential, enduring, and worthy of application?
Guide in planning the learning experiences.
Provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate understanding.

6. Identifying “Big Ideas”
What are the unifying themes?
What is really important to understand?
What core concept(s) are needed to make sense of the content?
What is the single most important idea you would want students will come away with?

7. Teacher as Instructional Designer
Turning curriculum into learning experiences
Design process considers all aspects of the desired outcomes:
Standards
Curriculum guidelines
Content
Student interest
Developmental level

8. Three Stages of the Design Process
Identify Desired Results
Stage 2
Determine Acceptable Evidence
Stage 3
Plan The Learning Experiences

9. Stage 1 Identify Desired Results
What should student know, understand, and be able to do?
Consider
Goals
Content standards
Curriculum Expectations
State Assessments

10. Stage 2 Determine Acceptable Evidence
How will you know students have achieved the desired results?
How will you determine if students have attained the desired understandings?
Consider both formative and summative assessments
Assess for understanding

11. Stage 3 Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
What knowledge and skills will students need to perform effectively and achieve the desired results and demonstrate understanding of the “Big Ideas”
Think about assessment before deciding what and how to teach
Purposeful task analysis

12. Goals of this Tutorial
Become aware of the backwards design philosophy.
Understand the concept of teacher as instructional designer.
Understand the “Big Idea” concept of instructional design.
Demonstrate knowledge of the three stage design process.

13. Next Steps
Think about a unit of instruction that you currently teach and determine the “Big Idea”.
What do you want your students to know and be able to apply as a result?
How is your core concept used in a real world application?

14. References
Wiggins, Grant P., and Jay McTighe. The Understanding by Design Guide to Creating High-quality Units. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, Print. Wiggins, Grant P., and Jay McTighe. Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Print.