Understanding by Design

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The framework outlined in Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) offers a three-stage, backward design process to assist teachers in centering their curriculum and assessments on big ideas, essential questions, and authentic performances. This framework works for both curriculum design and school and district improvement efforts. Join the group to post comments and questions and network with other educators.

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Most Recent Group Videos

    • Classroom Instruction That Works Video

    • ASCD's bestselling book is now a video. Watch the preview and find the book and video at http://shop.ascd.org.

    • 2012 Annual Conference: Jay McTighe and Judy Willis

    • Jay McTighe and Judy Willis discuss the importance of collaboration among teachers. Catch their pre-conference institute March 21-23, ahead of ASCD's 2012 Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in Philadelphia, PA.  

    • 2012 Annual Conference: Robert Marzano and Grant Wiggins

    • If you could create schools from scratch, what would they look like? ASCD authors Robert Marzano and Grant Wiggins exchange ideas on the topic in this candid conversation. Catch their presentations at ASCD’s Annual Conference & Exhibit Show, March 24-26, 2012, in Philadelphia, PA. http://bit.ly/nXO1k4

    • A Discussion With Allison Zmuda

    • David Hargis speaks to Allison Zmuda, author of the ASCD book Breaking Free From Myths About Teaching and Learning, about the importance of teachers prioritizing their time and focusing on the ultimate goal of creating critical thinkers.     

    • ASCD 2011 Summer Conference

    • ASCD's 2011 Summer Conference provides the opportunity to go in depth on four proven approaches -- Differentiated Instruction, Understanding by Design, What Works in Schools and Curriculum Mapping -- all in one place. Join us in Boston, July 1-3, 2011. Learn More

    • Jay McTighe: What I Learned From Surfing Lessons

    • Understanding by Design author Jay McTighe recounts a story of struggling to learn to surf and what he gained from that experience. Meet Jay at his session at ASCD's 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in San Francisco, March 26-28.     

    • Grant Wiggins on Learning From Failure

    • Understanding by Design author Grant Wiggins discusses a pivotal moment in his teaching career. Meet Grant during his session at ASCD's 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in San Francisco, March 26-28.

    • Allison Zmuda on Facing Challenges

    • Author and consultant Allison Zmuda talks about suffering a stroke in 2010 and her perspective on facing the challenges that came with it. Meet Allison during her session at ASCD's 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in San Francisco, March 26-28.

    • Jay McTighe on Learning From Failure

    • Understanding by Design author Jay McTighe discusses lessons he learned from failure and facing challenges. Meet Jay during his UbD session at ASCD's 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in San Francisco, March 26-28. 

    • Summer Conference 2010

    • Come to Orlando for ASCD's Summer Conference on Differentiated Instruction, What Works in Schools, Understanding by Design and Curriculum Mapping.
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Most Recent Group Photos

    • A Picture Walk (The Language-Rich Classroom)

    • Get Students "wondering" before you introduce a new content chapter, unit or story.  Do a picture walk and increase engagement dramatically!  "When [teachers] started experimenting with CHATS strategies, they saw instant reults, in terms of students' understanding and engagement.  That enthusiasm just propelled them forward into trying out other strategies... They're able to reach kids that they didn't know how to reach before.  Teachers are feeling empowered" (Dr. Janette Hewitt, Principal, Washington Elementary School).     The Language-Rich Classroom: A research-based framework for teaching English language learners, introduces a 5-part framework toward better teaching, better learning, and bridging the achievement gap (Persida & William Himmele, ASCD, 2009).

Comments




  • UbD is the text used at Concordia University in Irvine, Ca. I teach the course once/year and am always looking for better ways to present UbD and challenge the students.
    Sandy_Clifton, 3 years ago| Flag
  • Robert:

    Your students are fortunate to have UbD as a text. It seems like it would be much easier to learn to teach using UbD, than to learn a different format/style and then have to reprogram your planning style later in your professional career. UbD will help young professionals avoid planning 'activities' and teaching key topics without focusing on understanding and transfer. I hope more university professors read your post and follow your practice. Your students will become more thoughtful practitioners and I believe they will enjoy teaching more because UbD will support their goals more than other planning templates or frameworks.
    Steven_Weber, 3 years ago| Flag
  • The UbD text is required for my graduate course at Oregon State University entitled "Using Assessment to Improve Instruction and Learning". Many students are surprised I chose this text since it is about "curriculum planning". I often chuckle with them since that is exactly the point. Assessment must be critically embedded in their planning to get them away from being "activity designers". My class is one of the most difficult in the College of Education, but it has proved the most insightful and immediately applicable to my students who are already in their teaching fields on average for 3-8 years. Combining with Stiggins' Classroom Assessment for Student Learning, we have a rich source of exciting thinking and very purposefully designed instruction.
    Robert_Siegel, 3 years ago| Flag
  • hello colleagues,
    Another Australian connection- Hi Warrick! Jay worked with our Faculty Leaders from our 3 campuses a few weeks ago, and we had a curriculum mapping day a week later. Our Leaders really took the notions of cornerstone assessments back to the teams and the level of activity was amazing. I think the UbD framework works so well with the mapping- especially when folks start getting the ideas and practices around alignment.
    Wilma_Kurvink, 3 years ago| Flag
  • I added a bunch of internet links on EQs and assessment to my site - have a look. http://www.authenticeducation.org/ae_bigideas/
    Grant_Wiggins, 3 years ago| Flag

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