At its core, Backward Design flips the traditional course planning process. Instead of starting with content delivery, we begin with the end goal: what we want students to understand and achieve. Here’s how it works:
- Identify Desired Results
- Define clear learning outcomes and essential understandings.
- Ask: What should students know, understand, and be able to do by the end of the course?
- Determine Evidence of Attainment
- Plan assessments that measure student understanding.
- Consider performance tasks, projects, quizzes, and other forms of assessment.
- Design Learning Experiences
- Create activities, resources, and instruction that support the desired outcomes.
- Align content, activities, and assessments to ensure coherence.
Why Instructors Love It
- Intentionality: Backward design forces us to think purposefully. We focus on what truly matters—student learning.
- Alignment: Everything in the course aligns with the desired outcomes. No more “content for content’s sake.”
- Student-Centered: By emphasizing understanding, we engage students deeply and foster meaningful learning experiences.
Impactful Research
Wiggins and McTighe’s book, Understanding by Design, is a must-read. It emphasizes the power of starting with the end in mind and has influenced educators worldwide.