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Begin With the End in Mind

Beginning with the end in mind—that is, starting with the desired learning results, then how to assess evidence of learning, and finally planning the learning activities—helps keep the focus on students' understanding.

"We have found that backward design, whether applied by individual teachers or district curriculum committees, helps avoid the twin sins of activity-oriented and coverage-oriented curriculum planning," write Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins, founders of the Understanding by Design® framework.

Take a deep dive into these Understanding by Design resources from ASCD to learn how you can begin with the end in mind.

Learn About Understanding by Design®

Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition   Understanding by Design Professional Development Workbook   Connecting Understanding by Design, What Works in Schools, and Curriculum Mapping: Curriculum for the 21st Century DVD

Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition

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Understanding by Design Professional Development Workbook

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Connecting Understanding by Design, What Works in Schools, and Curriculum Mapping: Curriculum for the 21st Century DVD

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Course

  • Understanding by Design: An Introduction PD Online course
 

The Backward Design Approach infographicThe Backward Design Approach Infographic

See a breakdown of the steps in the backward design approach.

Download full infographic

 

Whole Child PodcastUsing Essential Questions to Uncover Content and Spark Thinking

In our latest podcast, Jay McTighe, Denise Wilbur, and Donnell Gregory explore what makes questions essential, how they are used to engage learners, and how they help develop and deepen understanding of important ideas and processes.

Listen to the episode below or download here.

Learn About Essential Questions

  Essential Questions Video   Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding  
 

Essential Questions Video

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Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding

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Learn About Unit Design

Understanding by Design Guide to Creating High-Quality Units   Understanding by Design Guide to Advanced Concepts in Creating and Reviewing Units   Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design: How do I refine my units to enhance student learning? (ASCD Arias)

Understanding by Design Guide to Creating High-Quality Units

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Understanding by Design Guide to Advanced Concepts in Creating and Reviewing Units

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Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design: How do I refine my units to enhance student learning? (ASCD Arias)

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Understanding by Design is a registered trademark of Backward Design, LLC used under license.

 

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Ideas from the Field

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