Backward Design

Backward Design

What is it?

Backward Design is an instructional design method used by educators to create instruction. It originated with Wiggins and McTighe in their book Understanding by Design (Grant P. Wiggins and Jay McTighe, most recent edition 2005, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development).

The backward design process for designing instruction has three main stages:

1. Identify desired results
2. Determine acceptable evidence
3. Plan learning experiences and instruction

Very simply put, it differs from the more beginning-to-end approach to instructional design where one decides what content to teach and then how to assess the resulting learning. Backward design begins the course creation process with the desired end in mind and focuses on what the learner will learn, not on what the teacher will teach.

• First, write the learning objectives that learners should achieve through instruction (identify the desired results)
• Second, create the assessments that will act as proof that the learners met the objectives (determine the acceptable evidence)
• Third, create the activities and assignments that lead the learner to perform well on the assessments (plan learning experiences and instruction).

Why this design method?

We are using the backward design process in this course for several reasons:

• It is well supported by learning theory.
• The three steps are simple and straightforward, easy to remember, and transferable to almost any instructional situation.
• Backward design is a process that is well known and widely accepted by educators. No matter who you are designing for, this method should be applicable, and the educators you are working with will probably be able to immediately relate to the framework you are using. If they aren't, it's very easy to explain.
• It is based on common sense, and it works consistently.

What else should I know?

Please read Chapter 1 of Wigging and McTighe's Understanding by Design, pages 13-19, below. The direct link to the book is here: http://books.google.com/books?id=N2EfKlyUN4QC&printsec=frontcover

Pay special attention to "The three stages of backward design" section that begins on page 17. After you've read the pages, proceed to the next page in this lesson and complete the self-check activities, and then complete the Backward Design Quiz in Carmen.

Wiggins, Grant, and Jay McTighe. "Backward Design." Understanding by design. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2005. 13-19. Print.

Self Check

There are two ordering activities in the widget below. Use the forward and back arrows at the bottom of the widget to move between the two activities. Use the up and down arrows to put the steps in the correct order. Click the checkmark to submit and check your answers. (Want to include SoftChalk lessons in your own course? Ask me about how to access the free trial of SoftChalk.)

Consider how these steps will apply to the course you are going to develop, and then complete the Carmen quiz on Backward Design.