Maximizing Learning Potential with Understanding by Design
As a teacher or educator, it’s essential to develop a deeper understanding of how your students learn. The Understanding by Design (UbD) framework is an effective approach to learning that enables educators to create a curriculum based on a student-centered mindset.
The Importance of Understanding by Design in Education
UbD is a teaching philosophy that was developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe in the late 1990s. The framework focuses on helping teachers create curriculum and lesson plans based on the understanding of the desired outcomes of learning, and utilizing goals that are achievable for the students.
The framework is critical in ensuring that the design of the lesson is geared towards the development of a deep understanding of a subject matter among your students. The primary goal of the Understanding by Design model is to ensure that students have a deep understanding of the learning outcomes by the end of the lesson, which ideally should lead to a long-lasting retention of what they have learned.
The Tenets of Understanding by Design
The Understanding by Design framework is a three-step process that includes identifying the desired results of the curriculum, determining suitable evidence to encapsulate the success of the learning, and lastly designing the learning plans and activities.
The first step is identifying the desired outcomes of learning. This is where the teacher sets the objectives of the lesson and the goals students should achieve by the end of the unit. This step also encompasses establishing the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes that a student requires to accomplish the intended learning outcomes.
In the second step, teachers must establish evidence of learning that will keep a student engaged during the learning process. This means creating assessments that serve the purpose of feedback and decision-making for both the students and the teachers. Assessing students helps the teacher determine and gauge mastery levels, thus being able to chart a course of action to improve outcomes in the classroom.
Lastly, the design of learning plans and activities are essential to fostering student achievement. The right activities will utilize the methodology that will most suit their desired outcome of learning, setting them up for success as a student. Teachers are asked to be creative with the methods of teaching and utilize engaged pedagogy in typically dull or challenging subjects.
Case Studies of Understanding by Design in Action
One example of the successful implementation of Understanding by Design in a classroom setting can be seen in a study by the University of Hong Kong. The study looked at how teachers integrated the UbD framework into their teaching in a primary school setting. The research found that there were positive outcomes not only on the students’ academic achievement but also in their willingness to take on greater responsibilities in the classroom.
Another case is a study by a team of researchers from Canada. The research focused on the integration of understanding by design focused on differentiation to support English language learners in their acquisition of scientific concepts. The results showed significant improvements in the student’s engagement and conceptual understanding.
Conclusion
The Understanding by Design framework is an effective way to maximize learning potential among students. By using this approach, educators will be able to create a curriculum centered on the student’s learning that will lead to higher academic success rates and greater engagement in the classroom. Applying this framework in your teaching style will set you up for more success as an educator.
