Backward+Design

Backward Design

Deconstructing Backward Design: (sourced from [] )

The concept of backward design encourages teachers to begin with the end goals of the teaching clearly in mind and then mapping out the steps that are needed to get there.

 The following chart clearly outlines the backward design action plan:

What “enduring” understandings are desired? What should students know, understand, and be able to do?
 * **Backward Design Stages ** ||   || **Action steps to refocus the conversation and re-vision an ELA program. ** ||
 * __Stage 1: __**** Identify Desired Results **
 * __Stage 1: __**** Identify Desired Results **

What is worth understanding?

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?
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Stage 2: __****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Determine Acceptable **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Evidence of Learning **


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Stage 3: __****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Design Learning Experiences **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> & Instruction ** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ð

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ð

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ð || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Set the vision. Focus on the big ideas. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Create a shared vision. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Departmental activities to focus on: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> __Enduring Understandings <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> __Standards (national, state, district) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> __Essential Questions

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Determine how students demonstrate <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> their knowledge. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Focus on assessment before designing <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> the learning activities. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Expand the assessment continuum.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Plan instructional activities. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Share best practice. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Build in collaboration. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Ensure success for all learners. ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Backward design is a strategy that will most certainly be included in the protocol for lesson planning at Dream School International. Just as one does not pursue higher education without an end goal in mind, an education at Dream School will be one that is planned from the end goal backwards to create logical steps that will ensure mastery of subjects and learners in reaching that end goal.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Teachers will have the responsibility of creating lessons that explore essential questions and which have an end goal in mind that all students in the class will be able to achieve. They will then be tasked with the job of differentiated instructional methods and materials and adapting lessons to make sure that all students have the tools that they need to reach this goal. Students will be assessed on their abilities to demonstrate their knowledge throughout the course of study instead of just at the end.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In this planning, teaching, and learning process the ‘Six Facets of Understanding will be employed. They are as follows: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">explain **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> provide thorough and justifiable accounts of phenomena, facts, and data
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">interpret **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> — tell meaningful stories, offer apt translations, provide a revealing historical or personal dimension to ideas and events; make subjects personal or accessible through images, anecdotes, analogies, and models
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">apply **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> — effectively use and adapt what they know in diverse contexts
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">have perspective **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> — see and hear points of view through critical eyes and ears; see the big picture
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">empathize **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">— find value in what others might find odd, alien, or implausible; perceive sensitively on the basis of prior indirect experience
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">have self-knowledge **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> — perceive the personal style, prejudices, projections, and habits of mind that both shape and impede our own understanding; they are aware of what they do not understand and why understanding is so hard