Backward Design
A Brief Introduction to Backward Design
There are many course design processes to use to create a course. This Schema takes you through one of those processes: Backwards Design. This is a process of intentionally designing your course using the WHY we discovered in the first part of this Schema as a focal point.You can start with what you want your students to know and do AND your WHY. Then, work your way through assessments, assignments, and activities that will get to your desired destination.
"But if I don't get all the way there by the time the semester starts, if I've really thought through the learning outcomes, and I’ve really thought [through] their assessment [...], I'm going to have the big milestones done and then I'll be able to just keep up a couple weeks ahead, maybe a day ahead." -- Bonni Stachowiak, Inside HigherEd 05/13/2020
First, start by aligning your WHYs with what you want the students to understand, or your overarching big picture learning goals. These are your Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions.
Write down your educational purpose and your course goals. This is available as a worksheet in the How workbook.
| Your Educational Purpose | Your Course Goals |
Further Reading
- Understanding by Design by Wiggins and McTighe (WashU catalog)
- A Self-Directed Guide to Designing Course for Significant Learning by Dee Fink (PDF)
- Small Teaching Online by Darby Flower (WashU catalog)