1. Teaching with the End in Mind
UAB Center for Teaching and Learning
Medical Educator Series
Will Brooks, PhD

2. Conflict of Interest
I have no conflict of interest.

3. Objectives Participants will:
Describe the backwards design approach to curricular planning
Create a curricular plan using backwards design

4. Traditional Curricular Planning
Step 1: Identify topic
Otitis media
Inflammatory bowel disease
Step 2: Flesh out content (lesson plans)
Create PowerPoint covering information
Step 3: Assessment
Write some test questions on content in PPT

5. Backwards Design Approach
Step 1: Identify the desired knowledge and skills learner will have at the end
Diagnose and treat otitis media in children
Differentiate the signs/symptoms and treatment strategy of Crohn’s and colitis
Step 2: Identify/create assessment
How will you assess the goal from step 1?
What is the appropriate level of competence?
Step 3: Lesson plan

6. Step 3: Lesson Plan
What knowledge and skills are needed to achieve competence in the assessment I have chosen?
This question keeps your content focused!
What is the best method of instruction?
Didactic, case study, simulation, rounding

7. Case Study
Will Brooks was asked to deliver a seminar entitled “Teaching with the End in Mind” to a group of medical educators. He wanted to apply backwards design to the seminar preparation…

8. Step 1: Identify the desired knowledge and skills learner will have at the end
Learners will be able to plan a teaching activity using backwards design.

9. Step 2: Identify/create Assessment
Assessment will be to review a curricular plan that was developed using backwards design.
Level of competence…
Well, I didn’t go to the trouble of creating a rubric but that is how I would do it.

10. Step 3: Lesson Plan Knowledge and skills necessary?
Know the steps to backwards design
Contrast backwards design with traditional design
Best method of instruction?
Small group, hands-on practice

11. Let’s Get To It, Then… Assignment:
Work in pairs to create an educational activity for your learners using Backwards Design.
Preclinical med students, clerkship med students, residents, fellows, etc.

12. Debrief