Creating Assignments that Matter
Creating assignments that matter begin with a solid holistic overview and understanding of what is needed to be taught and learned within the context of each curriculum. What skills, knowledge and concepts are to be unpacked from the Outcomes for students to know and be able to do.
There are many ways to plan for the learning that needs to occur within our classrooms. We each will have a unique way of ensuring that curriculum outcomes are being met in authentic ways. However there are common principles that are needed as we deliver curriculum. One way that is showcased here is UbD. (Understanding by Design)
"Begin With The End In Mind" a familar phrase that makes complete sense in many contexts. When we plan a trip, we have a destination chosen and we know where we are going. We have created a road map that shows the destination. That doesn't mean there might be some divergence along the way, but that is when one adjusts, recalibrates perhaps and carries on to the final destination.
It is the same in teaching. What is the road map that outlines the course content and delivery?
Incoprorating UbD principles as develped by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, is a sure way to create a unt that is thorough and complete which incorporates outcomes that are aligned with assignments and assessements.
UbD means that we plan backwards "Start with End in Mind"
Step One: Decide on the theme, unit and identify the outcomes to be addressed.
Step Two: Develop essential understandings and essential questions that relate to theme or unit. These will be the basis for the inquiry and learning.
Step Three: Determine what you want students to know and to be able to do. This may come from the indicators and preassessments that may have been done.
Step Four: Decide what evidence will indicate that students have met the criteria or levels or learning about the knowledge, skills, and understandings of the unit and create the assessment tools and criteria.
Step Five: Plan the instructional tasks tha you will use for teaching content and skills of the unit. Include a variety of formative assessments that will support student learning and your teaching.
Step Six: Implement, reflect, adjust.
This video shares the learning journey of one of our teachers as she unpacks and develops an understanding of the curriculum.
When we have clear plan of where we need to go and how we hope to get there, this provides a solid framework. This also allows for us to include differentiated instruction as needed and can be incorporated in an authentic manner.
All students learn differently and need a variety of ways to engage in learning and a variety of ways to show the learning that they have done.
The slide show embedded within the site shows a varitey of ways students can share their learning.
Learning In Action
Learning opportunites aligned with outcomes desgined to show various ways of learning are evident in these photos.