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Understanding by Design:
 The Backward Design Process

  Lesson 1 -- The Backward Design Process in Action
 
  • Describe and explain the backward design process, including the key elements of an Understanding by Design unit.
  • Critique a unit using Understanding by Design evaluation criteria.

  Lesson 2 -- Unpacking Standards: Using Understanding by Design and the Three-Circle Audit Process
 
  • Apply a process for determining what all students should know, be able to do, and understand as result of mastering district or state content and performance standards.
  • Use the Understanding by Design three-circle curriculum audit process to determine what is essential and what is negotiable in your curriculum in preparation for your unit design.

  Lesson 3 -- Creating Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions
 
  • Explain the difference between an overarching and a topical understanding.
  • Create effective statements of enduring understanding.
  • Describe the key elements of effective essential questions and explain their role in curriculum design.
  • Generate essential questions as part of instructional units promoting student understanding.

  Lesson 4 -- Using the Six Facets of Understanding to Communicate Enabling Knowledge
 
  • Edit and create behavioral objectives to ensure that they emphasize and promote student understanding.
  • Design learning outcomes that reinforce one of the six facets of understanding: explanation, interpretation, application, analysis of perspectives, empathy, and self-knowledge.

  Lesson 5 -- Determining Evidence of Understanding by Design Using a Range of Assessment Tools
 
  • Describe four key elements of an effective assessment process.
  • Design assessment tasks and processes that reinforce students’ self-reflection and demonstration of understanding through performance.
  • Design culminating performance assessment tasks and projects that reflect G.R.A.S.P.S. design criteria.

  Lesson 6 -- Using W.H.E.R.E.T.O. to Design Instructional Activities to Promote Student Understanding
 
  • Design instructional activities that ensure that students understand where they are headed, why they are headed there, and ways they will be evaluated.
  • Engage students’ interest and sense of authenticity during the learning process.
  • Equip all students for success through the use of an ongoing feedback and adjustment process.
  • Encourage students to reflect, revise, rethink, and revisit their growing understanding.
  • Support students in the processes of self-evaluation and exhibition of learning.
  • Tailor and organize learning activities to promote maximum student understanding and achievement.