Backward Design

The backward design is another approach to consider when designing a curriculum and the lessons. This article suggests that teachers are focused too much on how to teach a lesson and less on what the student needs to learn. We do need to consider what needs to be learned and what resources and materials are necessary to teach the lesson. We also need to consider the following questions: Do students know why they are studying a specific topic? What should they be expected to understand? What does the topic relate to that have been previously covered? What should the student know, and understand? How will the student be able to apply the concepts following a lesson? These are the questions that we all need to be thinking about when planning a lesson. Evaluating these types of questions is what the backward design want us to focus on primarily.

When looking at this model and the other models that we have discussed, this design model can be incorporated in with the other design models. This model is giving us a different approach in thinking when we are planning our main lessons. The other models such as 4Mat and differentiated instruction provide us with ways to reach out to each student individually so that they can grasp a standard or better understand a concept. Combined all of these models can help us as teachers to reach our goals in the classroom.