Backward Design: The "Big Picture."

Prepare

• Read the Weekly Lesson.
• Read Wiggins and McTighe (2005) Chapter 1: Backward Design.
• Watch the Depth of Knowledge with Karin Hess (Links to an external site.) video (2:59).

Reflect

• Select from one of the sample units from the Wiggins and McTighe (2005) text:
  
  • Figure 1.3: Nutrition Example (Chapter 1)
  • Figure 11.4: Social Studies Unit after Backward Design (Chapter 11)
  • Figure 11.7: Geometry Unit after Backward Design (Chapter 11)
• Look for relationships between the three Stages and what you learned and practiced in the Week 1 assignment Practice: “Life” Standards Alignment.
• Look for the levels of cognition (Bloom’s and Webb’s DOK) within the plan—what do you observe?

Write (Post an initial response by Day 3.)

• In the subject line for the discussion, indicate the Stage 1 lesson you selected (e.g., Nutrition or Social Studies)
• Share your thoughts and observations of the process of designing instruction using the backward design model. Describe more than the product (template) by discussing what the process means to you.
• Describe parallels you drew between Stage 1 and standards and objectives. Where do the unit standard and objectives seem to fit in specifically?
• Test yourself—what levels of cognitive rigor (Bloom’s and Webb’s DOK) did you observe in the plan? What helped you determine the levels you observed? How do you know?