Chapter 3: What Really Matters in Learning? (Content)

The problem with standards is that they can be too specific, too broad, and too numerous. A good approach to standards is to think of them as “big ideas” (27) and essential questions instead of a confining statement to be met. A good way to assure that standards are met, addressed, and taught to is backward design. There are three stages to backward design: the first is determining the end results, the second is determining that student work will prove they have met the end results and the third is the plans and activities that will teach students how to do the work. By using backwards design teachers avoid simply teaching everything in the curriculum without a goal in mind and planning activities or work that do not help students to truly learn the material. When I teach, backwards design will be essential in my creation of units to assure that I am meeting required standards but also teaching students how to prove they know the information.