The Backward Design Framework

Usually, when we start to plan our courses, one of the first questions we ask ourselves is “what do students need to know?” As important as this question is, it puts the focus on the content  of the course rather than the skills, attitudes, and behaviours students should acquire through the learning process. That’s where the backward design framework comes in. In its most fundamental form, backward design starts with a  focus on the student learning outcomes followed by the alignment of assessments and then the necessary instructional strategies and materials required to facilitate the achievement of those intended outcomes. For a brief breakdown of the steps in the backward design process, click on the titles below to learn more.

Additional Resources

If you would like to learn more about backward design, consider watching this brief video of Grant Wiggins, the co-creator of the backward design framework, providing a comprehensive explanation of backward design in action.