UNDERSTANDING BY DESIGNOverview

Tutorial Goals

1. Become aware that Understanding by Design is a philosophy.

2. Understand the concept of teacher as instructional designer.

3. Understand the “Big Idea” concept of instructional design.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the three stage design process.

Backwards Design as a Philosophy

•Know where your going

•Covering Content vs. Uncovering Content

•Planning Instruction Around “Big Ideas”

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.

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.

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?

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

Three Stages of the Design Process

Stage 1 • Identify Desired Results

Stage 2• Determine

Acceptable Evidence

Stage 3• Plan The

Learning Experiences

Stage 1

• Identify Desired Results• What should student know, understand, and

be able to do?• Consider

• Goals• Content standards• Curriculum Expectations• State Assessments

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

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

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.

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?

References

Wiggins, Grant P., and Jay McTighe. The Understanding by Design Guide to Creating High-quality Units. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2011. Print.

Wiggins, Grant P., and Jay McTighe. Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and

Curriculum Development, 2005. Print.