Backward Curriculum Design

Rachel posted this provocative entry, stating,

"How can one chart a course, if the destination is unknown? This is the fundamental concept behind the backwards instructional design model.

Traditional teaching methods have focused on chunking information into topics, from which a sequence of lessons are constructed, and finally, a method of assessment is created. By waiting until the end to answer what exactly students were meant to gain from their lessons, instructors miss the opportunity to ensure their lessons are meeting the needs of the course objectives. This is the core problem backwards design seeks to address. 

Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe introduced this methodology in their book “Understanding by Design”, published in 1998. Though it has been around for over two decades, more and more instructional designers, particularly those in higher education, are finding the merit in this “backwards” approach. 

In addition to being an effective and streamlined approach to curriculum design, it also promotes innovation and honing of critical thinking skills such as inductive and deductive reasoning - all concepts instructors wish to promote to their students. Engaging with course content in this approach consequently allows teachers to continue their own intellectual growth."