KNOWING UNDERSTANDING BY DESIGN AS A NEW APPROACH IN TEACHING

The Big Ideas of Understanding by Design

1)   UbD is a way of thinking purposefully about curriculum planning and school reform, a set of helpful design tools, and design standards - - not a program or recipe

2)   The end goal of UbD is understanding and the ability to transfer learning – to appropriately connect, make sense of, and use discrete knowledge and skills in context.

3)   Evidence of understanding is revealed through performance when learners transfer knowledge and skills effectively, using one or more “facets” (explain, apply, perspective, empathize and self-assess)

4)   Educators are coaches of understanding, ont mere purveyors of content or activity

5)   Planning is best done “backward” from the desired results and the transfer tasks that embody the goals

6)   UbD transforms Content Standards and other goals into focused learning targets based on “big ideas” and transfer tasks

7)   Design Standards guide self-assessment and peer review of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for quality control

8)   UbD reflects a “continuous improvement” approach to design and learning.

Wiggins and McTighe are the two authors of this new innovation regarding the mission and vission for quality education for more globally competed learners in the global competencies