Book SummaryUnderstanding By Design, by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Understanding By Design

The fundamental structure of reverse planning and its importance in developing curricula that promote deep comprehension.

The framework of Understanding by Design was developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe to strategically develop curricular units and courses that enhance students' understanding. The educational approach advocates for starting by identifying the desired learning outcomes and establishing evidence of understanding before selecting the methods and resources for instruction. The authors argue that this deliberate approach to planning enables educators to design educational experiences that are both meaningful and streamlined, ensuring that the curriculum, assessments, and instruction work in unison to cultivate a deep understanding of the fundamental ideas and procedures.

Backward design distinguishes itself from traditional methods of curriculum development by starting with the end goals in mind.

Wiggins and McTighe's backward design process deviates significantly from traditional curriculum design, which often begins with selecting content and activities before considering the desired learning outcomes. Educational programs frequently result in a fragmented structure that emphasizes the distribution of factual data at the expense of nurturing understanding. UbD employs a backward design method, starting with the identification of specific learning goals, then determining the evidence that will demonstrate student understanding, and finally planning instructional methods that equip students to meet these goals.

To achieve our educational goals, we must concentrate on fostering understanding and ensuring that knowledge can be utilized across different situations.

The first action in the backward design methodology involves identifying the desired results to be attained at the end of a specific unit or course. Wiggins and McTighe contend that these ideas should be organized around fundamental principles while also making sure they are relevant in contexts outside of academia. The authors stress the significance of defining fundamental insights that transcend mere data, highlighting more expansive concepts, principles, or approaches that hold relevance in a multitude of situations. A deep understanding can be expressed by saying, "Organisms possess innate and learned traits that facilitate their existence in particular habitats," which concisely encapsulates the broad principle of evolution by survival of the fittest.

Furthermore, by asking pivotal questions, one can thoroughly investigate and uncover the complexities inherent in the core principles. In the instance of adaptation, it could be pondered how organisms employ their adaptive traits to overcome environmental obstacles. The inquiries serve as guiding tools that steer students towards the central goals while they explore and examine the topic in depth.

Practical Tips

• Write a "future diary entry" dated one year from now, describing your life as if you've already achieved your desired results. This exercise can help you clarify what you truly want to accomplish and the emotions associated with those achievements. For instance, if your goal is to run a marathon, your entry might detail the sense of accomplishment and the lifestyle changes that helped you cross the finish line.
• Develop a habit of asking "Why?" five times to uncover the fundamental principle behind any result you desire. For instance, if you aim to save money, ask why until you reach a core principle like financial independence. Then, use this principle to guide your actions, such as researching and investing in low-cost index funds, which may be more aligned with the principle of financial independence than simply cutting daily expenses.
• Create a "5 Whys" habit to dig deeper into the reasons behind everyday occurrences. When something notable happens, ask "why" five times to uncover a fundamental insight. If you're feeling unusually happy one day, asking "why" could lead you to realize it's not just because of a single good event, but perhaps because you've been making more time for personal hobbies, indicating a deeper need for work-life balance.
• You can practice expressing complex ideas in five words or less to sharpen your conciseness. Start by choosing a topic you're familiar with, summarize the main idea in a full sentence, and then gradually reduce the word count while preserving the essence of the message. For example, if your topic is climate change, you might start with "Human activities are warming Earth" and distill it to "Actions heat our planet."

Determining the various forms of evaluative evidence that illustrate understanding.

During the second stage of backward design, the focus shifts to determining the evidence required to show that students have achieved the desired results. Wiggins and McTighe make a compelling argument that traditional assessment methods such as multiple-choice tests and short quizzes do not effectively gauge genuine understanding. They recommend using a variety of assessment methods that require students to apply their knowledge and skills in tasks that mirror challenges they might encounter beyond the school environment.

During the segment focusing on adaptation, a hypothetical organism could be conceptualized with characteristics enabling its prosperity in an especially challenging environment. Evaluating these tasks hinges on specific standards and evaluation frameworks that distinguish among various levels of understanding and ability. To guarantee that assessments are purposefully aligned with educational goals and truly represent student understanding, these evaluations should be created prior to formulating particular teaching methods.

Practical Tips

• Create a personalized learning checklist to track your progress in a new skill or subject. Start by defining the end goal of what you want to achieve, then list the key milestones and types of...

Understanding By Design Summary Determining the core educational goals, essential ideas, and key questions captures the true nature of understanding and its different elements.

Wiggins and McTighe argue that a genuine grasp of a subject extends beyond mere memorization and repetition of data. Wiggins and McTighe contend that genuine comprehension is evidenced through the effective utilization of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar situations, coupled with the cultivation of a profound and flexible grasp of fundamental principles. UbD distinguishes itself from traditional curriculum approaches by prioritizing the use of knowledge in significant contexts rather than just the recitation of facts and data.

Developing a deep understanding instead of merely gathering data.

Wiggins and McTighe encourage teachers to reassess their definition of comprehension. Wiggins and McTighe describe understanding as a multifaceted achievement that manifests in various ways rather than as a single, uniform idea. To foster deep understanding, it's crucial to identify the different elements involved and to design learning experiences and assessments that transcend simple recall or proficiency in carrying out procedures.

Distinguishing between knowledge and understanding

Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe clearly distinguish between the ideas of "knowing" and...

Understanding By Design Summary Designing assessments that measure and promote understanding through activities that are in harmony with predetermined benchmarks.

Designing assessments to measure and develop understanding is a crucial element of UbD. Wiggins and McTighe emphasize a shift in focus from merely testing student knowledge to creating assessments that genuinely assess and enhance profound comprehension. They provide practical strategies for designing effective assessments, including performance tasks and rubrics that prioritize transfer, authenticity, and the application of knowledge in realistic contexts.

Taking on the responsibilities of an assessor.

Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe advocate for a shift away from traditional curricula that emphasize tasks and towards embracing the perspective of an assessor. The method involves a comprehensive analysis of the required assessment evidence for every expected result, rather than selecting educational tools and resources without initially establishing the learning goals. Educators should consistently engage in reflective inquiries that influence the shaping of their curriculum.

What evidence has been collected to show understanding that aligns with the goals?

Prior to creating particular evaluation activities, educators need to identify what kind of proof would most...

Understanding By Design Summary Creating programs and educational settings that bolster and facilitate understanding.

Educators are crucial in crafting and steering educational experiences that are intentional, significant, and engaging, thereby nurturing comprehension. A thorough investigation that prioritizes engagement and critical reassessment is essential to transcend the limitations of traditional textbook-based instruction.

Balancing the need to blend the subject matter with its essential disclosure.

Achieving deep understanding requires a well-proportioned curriculum that covers all necessary content while emphasizing the discovery of core principles and promoting comprehensive knowledge. Wiggins and McTighe emphasize the necessity of a methodical teaching strategy that places a premium on clear instruction, mentorship, and aiding students in their proactive cultivation of understanding.

Acknowledging the importance of explicit instruction, the approach promotes knowledge acquisition through constructivist techniques while offering guidance and assistance.

Throughout a unit, a teacher may adopt different roles when needed, as guiding students through a constructivist approach, providing explicit teaching, and acting as a mentor are complementary strategies in the...

Understanding By Design Summary The core principles, fundamental convictions, and the role of educators in nurturing understanding form the bedrock of the Understanding by Design framework.

Wiggins and McTighe argue that Understanding by Design offers more than just a design framework; it presents a set of core principles and a vision of how teachers can effectively foster student understanding in every learning experience, irrespective of content or context. This requires a shift from traditional activity-driven lesson planning to a more intentional and reflective approach, grounded in clear goals, authentic assessment, and ongoing feedback.

A synopsis of the core principles underpinning Understanding by Design.

The core structure of "Understanding by Design" goes far beyond elementary design approaches. The success of this method is contingent upon following six essential principles that should guide the development and implementation of every educational experience.

Identifying the primary goals and focusing on the essentials is essential.

Educational activities should always have clear goals and objectives guiding them. Educators using the Understanding by Design framework start their lesson planning by identifying the specific learning outcomes they want to accomplish, focusing on enduring understandings, essential questions, and authentic...