1. Exploring Backward Design
Rethinking Approaches to Foster Understanding in the Classroom
presented by
Angela Ramnarine-Rieks
TEACHING PROFESSOR WORKSHOP - OCTOBER

2. Activity 1: Envisioning the End Product
Imagine a student in your course, program or school
What should this person be able to do on the completion of this class?

3. Activity 2: Goals of Higher Ed
What do you see as higher ed learning goals?
Learning Goal
How is that manifested in your class/field?

4. Goals of Higher Ed Critical Thinking – 99% First 2 years of college
Overall gain in CT skills – 7% students
Critical Thinking – 99%
Source: Arum, R., & Roksa, J. (2011). Academically adrift. Limited learning on college campuses.

5. Shortcomings Where do college grads come up short? Hard Skills
% of Managers (Deficit)
Writing proficiency 44
Public speaking 39
Data analysis 36
Soft Skills
% of Managers (Deficit)
Critical thinking/problem solving 60
Attention to detail 56
Communication 46
Source: Payscale’s 2016 Workforce-Skills Preparedness Report:

6. Backward Design Planning process An Example - Web Design 101 Topics
History of the Web
Design Fundamentals
Information Architecture
Web Project Management
Server side and Client side software
Create a website ?
Wiggins, G. P., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design. Ascd.

7. Setting the Stage Can I plan for understanding?
What inspires students?
What is really important ?

8. What should students know and be able to do?
3 stage Backward Design
Stage 3
Learning Experiences
What activities and material will equip students with the needed college and skills
Stage 2
Acceptable Evidence
How will you know if students have achieved desired results. What will be accepted as evidence of understanding and proficiency?
Stage 1
Desired results
What should students know and be able to do?

9. Rethinking Web Design 101 Example
Learning goal - Understanding what is web design and apply principles to their own projects
Evidence - Quizzes vs Development of projects?
Class experiences
Opportunities to practice –technical aspects, learning to work together?
Space for thinking – What is web design?
External sources – professionals

10. Effectiveness of Backward Design
Envision Outcomes for Learners
ALIGNMENT
Planning of Activities and Resources
Evidence learners produce

11. Effectiveness of Backward Design
STAGE 1
What is worthy of understanding?
What are essential questions?
What is important for them to know or do?
STAGE 2
What is acceptable evidence?
What is the learner’s role?
How much evidence?
STAGE 3
What activities that help make meaning ?

12. Worthy of Understanding (my focus)
Has value beyond the class – Enduring
Core to the discipline
Requires uncoverage
Engages Inquiry

13. Activity 3: Content needed to succeed?
Essential
Worth familiarity
Essential
Worth Knowing
Essential

14. Summation
Another approach to support understanding which is the heart of meaningful learning