Backward design is a 3-stage process for planning curriculum and instruction where educators start by identifying desired results such as goals and standards, then determine acceptable assessments to measure student understanding, and finally plan learning experiences and instruction aligned to desired results and assessments. The stages are to first establish goals by identifying understandings, essential questions, facts and skills students should know and be able to do, then to plan assessments like performance tasks and other evidence to evaluate student learning, and finally to design instructional methods, materials and activities to help students achieve targeted understandings and be able to demonstrate required knowledge and skills.
