This document summarizes an agenda and activities for a workshop on Understanding by Design (UbD). The agenda includes a review of UbD, identifying essential questions and understandings, and designing assessments. Examples of essential questions and understandings are provided. Essential questions are meant to be open-ended, investigated from multiple perspectives, and encourage meaning making. Understandings are meaningful big ideas that cannot be directly taught but must be inferred, connect different ideas, and transfer to new contexts. Participants engage in self-tests and activities to identify essential questions and understandings. The workshop leaders offer to meet with participants to help evaluate essential questions and understandings or participate in peer reviews of instructional units.

1. Essential Questions and UnderstandingsElizabeth Namba and Stacy StephensSept. 7th, 2009

2. Today’s AgendaUbD Review - 15 minsEssential Questions - 25Break - 10Understandings - 25Design - 20Reflection - 10

3. Activity OneMaking meaning of UbD

4. UbD in a NutShellBased on principal of backward designYou start with your goals in mindDesign assessments that meet your goalsKey is transfer of skillsPrimary goal is student understanding and meaning making of big ideasRegular review of curriculum against design standards for quality and effectiveness

5. GoalsStandards and benchmarksAlso any additional aims you have for the classCan be school-wideDepartment based

6. Essential QuestionsDoes a “good read” differ from a “great book”?What’s the pattern? How can I best represent it?By what criteria should I judge this performance?What does this audience demand of me as a writer, speaker?What is the author’s point?When is proper English absolutely essential and when would it be too stuffy and inappropriate in context?What is a valid interpretation of those historical events?What do I need to understand about the culture to understand the language and vice versa?What is the most helpful feedback I can give here?Why do people eat so poorly if we know so much about nutrition?

7. So, what is an Essential Question?What is your “theory” given these examples?Essential Questions are:Is open ended; has no simple right answerIs meant to be investigated, argued, looked at from different points of viewEncourages active “meaning making”Raises other important questions

8. Self Test on Essential QuestionsWhat is estivation?To what extent is geography destiny?What is a linear equation?How real and pressing is global warming?What is a “true” friend?What is the point of a semi-colons?

9. Understanding: Activity TwoWhat is understanding and how does it differ from knowing?

10. UnderstandingsNo pain, no gainPrice is a function of supply and demandFriendships can be deepened or undone by hard times.History is the story told by the winners.F = ma – so weight is not massMath models simplify physical relations – and even sometimes distort relations – to deepen our understanding of them.The best writing paints a pictures in the readers mind.A good storyteller rarely tells the meaning of the story.

11. So, what is an “Understanding”?What’s your theory given these examples?Understandings are:Meaningful big ideas…the moral of the storyCannot be transmitted, must be “earned”Connects the dotsIs transferable to other contextsIs usually not obvious

12. Self-Test for UnderstandingThe cause and effects of the Civil War.The price of an item is a function of supply and demand.Collaborate is spelled with two L’s. No pain, no gain.The associative property means that (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

13. Activity ThreeIndicators of UnderstandingWhat does understanding look like....In your groups, take one question and brainstorm your answers.

14. Design Drivers Ed 101

17. ReflectPg. 286Review your handout

18. Next StepsWhat we can do for you?Consider, what you want from us.Determine your goals for the year.e.g. Evaluate all Essential Questions and Understandinge.g. Participate in a peer review session of a unitWhat can you accomplish today?PE with Elizabeth at 2:15Science with Stacy at 2:15Math with Elizabeth at 3pmHumanities 6 with Stacy at 3pm

19. CitationsAll images via Microsoft ClipArtAuthentic Education UbD 101 Summer Institute Workbook, 2009McTighe and Wiggins, Understanding by Design. Professional Workbook, ASCD 2004