Grant Wiggins - Understanding by Design (1 of 2)

Summary

Grant Wiggins discusses the concept of Understanding by Design (UBD) as a planning framework rather than a teaching philosophy or approach. He emphasizes the importance of aligning short-term teaching plans with long-term educational goals, such as fostering critical and creative thinking. Wiggins highlights the need for educators to be prepared for teachable moments and to help students develop strategic thinking and autonomy. He also stresses the importance of embedding long-term goals in daily classroom activities and the role of assessment in guiding instruction towards these goals.

Takeaways

• 📈 **Understanding UBD**: Understanding by Design (UBD) is a planning framework, not a teaching philosophy or approach. It aims to make teaching more goal-focused and effective.
• 🛠️ **Planning for Success**: A good plan can make a teacher more prepared, but it doesn't necessarily make them a better teacher. Pedagogical skills and attention to group dynamics are still crucial.
• 🎯 **Goal-Focused Teaching**: The goal of UBD is to help teachers think both short-term and long-term about what they want to accomplish with their students.
• 🧠 **Prepared Minds**: Being prepared for teachable moments is essential, but it's not about letting students dictate the curriculum; it's about using student comments as entry points to the planned learning goals.
• 🚀 **Long-Term Vision**: Teachers should have a clear vision of the long-term goals, which includes developing autonomous, proactive, and thoughtful individuals, not just passing through content.
• 🔄 **Content and Performance**: The ultimate goal is a blend of content and performance, where students can effectively and fluidly apply what they've learned.
• 🔍 **Misalignment Issue**: There's often a misalignment between short-term plans and long-term goals, which can lead to students achieving high grades without necessarily developing critical and creative thinking skills.
• 🏫 **School's Role**: Even prestigious schools can fail to add value in terms of pedagogical effectiveness, as seen in the example of a prep school where critical thinking did not improve over four years.
• 🤔 **Strategic Thinking**: Developing strategic thinking is important, and it requires more than just telling students what to do; it involves fostering proactive control and a long-term view.
• 📝 **Self-Assessment**: Encouraging students to self-assess against their long-term goals is a powerful way to ensure they understand and are working towards those goals.
• 📋 **One-Sentence Mission**: Teachers should be able to articulate a one-sentence mission statement for their course, which encapsulates the purpose and desired outcomes of their teaching.

Q & A

What is UBD and how does it differ from a teaching philosophy or approach?

UBD, or Understanding by Design, is a planning framework rather than a teaching philosophy or approach. It is designed to make teaching more goal-focused and effective by preparing educators to think both short-term and long-term about what they aim to accomplish with their students.

Can a bad teacher have a good plan according to the transcript?

Yes, the transcript suggests that a bad teacher can have a good plan. However, it emphasizes that a good plan does not necessarily make one a better teacher, as teaching skills and pedagogical moves are still essential.

What is the role of being prepared in teaching according to the speaker?

Being prepared in teaching is crucial as it allows teachers to be ready for teachable moments and to guide students towards the intended learning outcomes effectively. The speaker likens this to Pasteur's famous line, 'chance favors the prepared mind.'

How does the speaker define critical and creative thinking in the context of education?

Critical and creative thinking are defined as long-term goals in education. The speaker argues that these skills should be embedded in short-term plans and assessments to ensure that students develop them, rather than just achieving high grades through compliance and thoroughness.

What is the 'fatal mistake' of prep schools mentioned in the transcript?

The 'fatal mistake' of prep schools, as mentioned, is the assumption that because they hire intelligent and well-educated staff, critical and creative thinking will naturally occur in the classroom, without explicitly planning for it.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate the misalignment between short-term plans and long-term goals?

The speaker gives the example of a well-known prep school that conducted an assessment of critical thinking skills in 9th and 12th graders and found no improvement, despite admitting smart students and having high expectations.

Why is it important for students to have a long-term view according to the transcript?

Having a long-term view is important for students because it helps them to develop proactive control over their learning and to understand the relevance of their current work to their future goals, which in turn can lead to more meaningful and effective learning.

What does the speaker suggest as a simple test for whether students understand their long-term goals?

The speaker suggests asking students to self-assess against their goals for the year as a simple test to determine if they understand their long-term objectives.

What is the significance of the 'freeze tag' rule introduced by the speaker during a soccer scrimmage?

The 'freeze tag' rule was introduced to encourage strategic thinking among soccer players. If players could not explain their actions in relation to the game's strategy, the speaker would switch the ball to the other side, highlighting the need for players to think critically about their moves.

How does the speaker relate the concept of backward design to the development of long-term goals in education?

The speaker relates backward design to the development of long-term goals by emphasizing the need to start with the desired outcome (the goal) and then work backward to determine the necessary assessments and instructional strategies to achieve that goal.

What exercise does the speaker suggest for educators to clarify their course's mission?

The speaker suggests an exercise where educators write a one-sentence mission statement for their course to clarify its purpose. This exercise helps to focus on the long-term goals and the desired outcomes for students.