An

Introduction to
Backward
Design
Why is a Curriculum
Important?
There are many reasons but lets
discuss two quotes
Failure to plan is planning to fail.

If youre not sure where youre going
your liable to end up someplace else.




So Traditional Design is
like

Setting out on a trip and not
knowing WHERE you are going
and not knowing HOW you will
know when you get there.


Traditional Curriculum
Planning
CONSISTED OF COVERAGE
Cover the curriculum map.
Cover the unit rotation.
Cover this title.
Weve got these books in the book room.
We cant afford new titles. Lets see what
we can cover with these titles.
I need to cover my favorite unit.
Backward Design
To begin with the end in mind
means to start with a clear
understanding of your destination.
It means you know where youre
goingso the steps you take are
always in the right direction
Deconstructing Backward
Design
Lets look at the words
Backward:
Begin with the end in mind.
Develop a clear understanding of where you
want to go.
Map out the steps to get you there.
Design:
To have purposes and intentions; to plan and
execute

What is backward design?
Its thinking about
ASSESSMENT
Before
Deciding how you teach

Backward Design
Stages
Stage 1: Identify Desired Results
What enduring understanding are desired?
What should students know, understand, and be able
to do?
What is worth understanding?
Action Steps:
List the standards you wish to teach
Unpack the standard(s)
Determine the Essential Questions
Determine the Topical Questions
Determine the Key Understandings

Big Idea
Backward design begins a vision of what ALL
students should achieve
Core concepts, principles, theories, and
processes that anchor curriculum.
This is what we want students to remember
Students will actually understand and be able
to use this LONG after they leave our
classroom
What is an Essential
Question???
Broad in scope
Not easily answered in one sentence - meant
to be discussed
Have no easy answers and can be examined
in multiple perspectives
Requires reasoning and justification - allows
the students to think deeply
Sparks more questions
Important questions that recur throughout all
our lives ~ K-12 and beyond
What is a Topical
Question???
What exactly do I want my students
to know about this topic?
Can be answered as a result of in-
depth inquiry into a single topic
Can be answered in 1-2 sentences
Lets Compare the Types of
Questions
Essential Question Topical
Question
How do the various * How does food
body systems interact? turn into energy?

How do authors use * How does Jan
Story elements to Brett use language
establish mood? to establish a mood?


Backward Design Stages

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence of
Learning
How will we know if students have achieved the
desired results and met the standards?
What will we accept as evidence of student
understanding and proficiency?
Action Steps:
Determine how students demonstrate their knowledge.
Focus on assessment before designing the learning
activities.
Expand the assessment continuum.


Unit Elements Based on
Backward Design
Standards/What kids know and are able to do:
Curriculum must be anchored in standards.
Standards are not static. They need to be locally reviewed,
aligned, & reaffirmed on an ongoing basis.
Teachers need to know what they are expected to teach.
Students need to know what they will be held accountable
for.
What is it that we really want students to know and be able
to do?
Standards are more than covering content, more than a
laundry list.
We want kids to know, but we also want them to be able to
DO.
Standards need to be clearly articulated in kid friendly
language so that all can understand and use them.
Backward Design
Stages
Stage 3: Design Learning Experiences
& Instruction
Action Steps:
Plan instructional activities.
Share best practice.
Be engaging and effective.
Ensure success for all learners.

Unit Elements Based on
Backward Design
Assessments:
Students demonstrate understanding throughout the unit,
not just at the end.
Allows students to be assessed in multiple ways.
Criteria and performance standards are clearly stated
and understood by all.
Used to inform instruction.
Assessment helps teachers evaluate their own work,
success of their curriculum design.
Assessment answers the following questions:
How much did they learn?
How well did they learn it?
How well did we teach it?
Unit Elements Based on
Backward Design
Activities leading to assessments:
What prior knowledge do students need in order
to be successful?
What curriculum and instructional strategies are
needed to lead the student to mastery?
Learning is spiraled. Students revisit and
reconsider ideas and skills.
Curriculum is designed to answer the essential
question.
Incorporate a variety of sources more than a
textbook!
The Swimming School
Tune On Top of Old Smoky
Last year I decided
To be fit and trim
So I took a class called,
Lets Learn How to Swim
The classroom was tidy,
The textbook was cool
It had colored pictures of folks in a pool.
I read every chapter, I read every line
I did all the worksheets- success would be
mine.
The teacher said, First thing,
Well learn not to drown.
Id suggest you take notes now,
Cause this is profound.
The test will be Friday, its fill-in-the-blank
I grade on a bell curve
To see where you rank.
Well, wonder of wonders,
I got the best score
So now I was ready to swim shore to shore
I rushed to the pool
Which was right down the block
I jumped in the water and sank like a rock.
The lifeguard who saved me
Was not too impressed
When I showed my grade card
That proved I was best.
He said, Swimmings a pattern of kicking and
strokes
But you have no program, your class was a
hoax.
So now Im enrolled in
Lets Learn How to Knit,
Im making a muu-muu
Forget being fit!
Written by Jean Spanko
Words of Wisdom
I always know where Im going
as I teach, because Ive already
been there in my planning
process.
- Stacy Irvin