Backwards Design......

Reading this week learning paths and while scrolling through my friend   ZOE's  blog I found many things related to our assignment 2. They provide information about backwards design as a way of creating our lesson and unit plan. This will help me to open my mind to getting do research and more reading about assignment 2.

From my understanding the first and most important aspect of backwards design is to become familiar with the Standards for the grade level and curriculum area being taught.The formula given in study desk; Curriculum + Assessment + Pedagogy = Quality Learning Experience, and Backwards Design has been a powerful guideline for me to plan for the unit lesson. It helps me to work step-by-step form 

1. Identify desired result 
2. Determining acceptable evidence 
3. Planning learning experiences and instructions.

Although Backward Design may be difficult initially simply because it is very different, the effectiveness of this design justifies its being incorporated by all educators. A reasonable place to start when setting the end goal, or big idea, of the unit is the state standards. Standards shape our work and guide much of our testing (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005, p. 13).  Big ideas should be specific long-term understandings upon which future lessons can be build. Once the big ideas have been established, the focus turns to the understandings. 

When a concept is truly understood it can be explained and is transferable, or applied to problem solving. Students who understand a concept see the bigger picture and can empathize or allow another’s view.  They are also aware of their own knowledge limits.  In order to facilitate such understandings, teachers must formulate essential questions.  These questions foster inquiry and encourage students to think deeply and construct meaning as they develop their understanding of big ideas.  They challenge students to make sense of new ideas and reconsider their prior knowledge.  Students are also encouraged to form questions, which may or may not be answered. (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005, p.105).

Hopefully the above information  will help you to select the framework/s that you believe could help you underpin your planning for the integrated use of ICT or be used to transform your teaching and students’ learning with ICT.

 

I found the above video explains very clearly what is backward design, have a look. 

Reference

Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (expanded second edition). Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.