Exploring the Basics of Understanding by Design: A Comprehensive Guide

Do you want to create an effective curriculum that engages students and promotes deep learning? Understanding by Design (UbD) may be the answer! UbD is a framework that helps educators design learning experiences that focus on understanding. This comprehensive guide will cover the basics of UbD and how to use it effectively in your classroom.

What is Understanding by Design?

UbD was developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe as a way to design effective curricula that focus on understanding and transfer of knowledge. The framework is based on three stages:

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

This approach begins with the end in mind and focuses on understanding instead of just covering material. It helps educators to create authentic assessments that measure student understanding and transfer of knowledge.

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

The first stage of UbD requires educators to identify what they want students to understand and be able to do at the end of a unit or lesson. This includes essential questions, knowledge, and skills. Essential questions require critical thinking and are open-ended. They typically begin with words such as “why,” “how,” or “what if.”

For example, a unit on climate change may include the essential question: “How does human activity contribute to climate change?” Knowledge and skills should be aligned with state or national standards and should be specific to the unit or lesson.

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

In stage two, educators determine the evidence that will show students have achieved the desired results. This includes assessments that measure understanding and transfer of knowledge. Authentic assessments are preferred over traditional assessments such as multiple-choice tests. Authentic assessments require students to apply knowledge and skills in real-world situations.

For example, an assessment for the climate change unit may involve students researching and presenting on the environmental impact of a specific human activity.

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

The third stage of UbD is where educators plan instruction and learning experiences that lead to the desired results. This includes activities, lessons, and assessments that are aligned with the essential questions, knowledge, and skills from stage one.

Learning experiences should be engaging and relevant to students’ lives. Activities should be designed to support students in understanding and transferring knowledge. Educators should also consider differentiation to meet the needs of all learners in the classroom.

Examples of UbD in Practice

UbD has been used in classrooms around the world to design effective and engaging curricula for students. Here are a few examples:

– A biology teacher uses UbD to design a unit on genetics. The unit includes essential questions such as “How do genes affect our traits?” and “What are the ethical implications of genetic engineering?” Students are assessed through authentic assessments such as a debate on the ethics of genetic engineering.

– A history teacher uses UbD to design a unit on the civil rights movement. The unit includes essential questions such as “What were the goals of the civil rights movement?” and “How did nonviolent protests impact change?” Students are assessed through authentic assessments such as a written analysis of a primary source or a video interview with a civil rights activist.

Conclusion

UbD is a powerful framework for designing effective curricula that focus on understanding. By starting with the end in mind and focusing on authentic assessments, educators can create engaging learning experiences that promote deep learning. By incorporating UbD into your classroom, you can help your students develop a deeper understanding of the material and become lifelong learners.