Mastering Effective Lesson Planning with the Understanding by Design Framework
Are you a teacher looking for ways to improve your lesson planning? Do you want your students to have a deeper understanding of the content? Then the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework may be just what you need.
Introduction
UbD is a framework that helps teachers design lessons by starting with the end in mind. This means that teachers begin by considering what they want their students to understand and be able to do at the end of a unit, before planning the lessons that will get them there.
The Three Phases of UbD
UbD consists of three phases:
Phase 1 – Identify Desired Results
In this phase, teachers determine what they want students to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of a unit. The key question is “what are the essential skills and knowledge that students need to master?”
Phase 2 – Determine Acceptable Evidence
This phase involves deciding how teachers will know that students have achieved the desired results. This includes choosing what forms of assessment and evaluation to use, such as written work, presentations, tests, or projects.
Phase 3 – Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
In this phase, teachers create specific activities, lessons, and assignments that will help students achieve the desired results. Teachers may use various teaching strategies, such as direct instruction, group work, or independent study, to develop their curriculum.
The Benefits of UbD
Using the UbD framework offers several benefits to both teachers and students.
Firstly, it encourages the creation of student-centered lessons. This means that lessons are tailored to meet the needs and interests of the students, ensuring that they engage fully with the content.
Secondly, the UbD framework promotes deep learning rather than surface-level learning. It helps students to develop a deeper understanding of the content and develop critical thinking skills to apply that information to new situations.
Thirdly, UbD allows teachers to assess students’ learning more effectively by focusing on performance assessment, whereby students demonstrate their understanding through various means.
Examples of Successful UbD Implementation
The UbD framework has been successfully implemented in many schools across the world. For example, in the English Language Arts (ELA) class in a Canadian school, teachers used the framework in a unit on the great outdoors.
By the end of the unit, students were able to demonstrate their learning by creating an online magazine showcasing their knowledge of the flora and fauna, wildlife, and geography of the Canadian outdoors.
Another example is in a Social Studies class in a US school, where teachers used UbD to develop a unit on ancient China.
The students demonstrated their learning by creating a podcast on the different dynasties of ancient China. Students worked in groups to research the various dynasties and then recorded their podcast, which showcased their knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills.
Conclusion
The UbD framework is a powerful tool for teachers who want to create effective lesson plans that promote deep student learning. By using the UbD framework, teachers can design lessons that meet the needs of their students and ensure that they achieve essential skills and knowledge.
Using the UbD framework is not a one-off exercise but a continuous process of reflection and revision to create the most effective curriculum possible. By adopting this approach to lesson planning, teachers can shape the future of their students by imparting the skills and knowledge that will help them thrive in an ever-changing world.
