This page features information, resources, and activates on the Backwards Design framework and is meant to help you further plan, implement, and measure the learning goals you have set. Completing these activities should reveal strategic opportunities to incorporate culturally relevant practices in your teaching practice and course design.

Backwards Design

Backward design is an educational planning approach where the instructor starts with the end goals or desired outcomes and then works backward to create the curriculum. Developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, it emphasizes identifying the learning objectives first, determining acceptable evidence that students have achieved these objectives, and finally planning instructional activities. By focusing on what students should know and be able to do by the end of the course, backward design ensures that all teaching strategies, assignments, and assessments align with these goals, fostering a more coherent and targeted learning experience.

Start at the End (Goal)

The “start at the end (goal)” phase of backward design involves identifying the specific learning objectives or outcomes that students should achieve by the end. Here, you will use the learning goals you established from the previous page. In other contexts, this framework scales from course learning outcomes or module objectives.

Think Assessment

The assessment phase of backward design involves determining the evidence that will show whether students have achieved the desired learning objectives identified in the first phase. Assessments can take various forms, such as tests, projects, presentations, or performance tasks, depending on what best demonstrates student understanding and skills. For our learning goals, assessments might also capture perceptions and behaviors. Here, the key is to ensure that these assessments are authentic and meaningful, providing clear indicators of student progress and mastery. Allow students meaningful choice and flexibility in demonstrating knowledge when possible.

Strategize (Instructional Activities)

This phase involves planning the class activities and instructional methods that will guide students towards achieving the established learning objectives and performing well on the assessments. Other key elements of this phase include the scaffolding and sequencing of information, course materials and resources, and feedback and reflection.

Activity

The below grid is set up to reflect the three stages of the backwards design process. Here is a link to a force-copy version: Alignment Plan GoogleDoc. Fill out the chart, using the learning goals you established earlier as a guide. Then, consider existing and potential practices, activities, materials, and assessments. Later chapters in this toolkit provide ways to advance cultural responsiveness, belonging, engagement, and critical consciousness in the assessment and strategy phases of this backwards design process.

Example