What is Understanding by Design? Interview with Jay McTighe

Summary

In this insightful conversation, Jay, co-author of *Understanding by Design*, explains the framework's focus on helping students develop deep, transferable knowledge. He emphasizes that UBD is essential in preparing students for a rapidly changing world by fostering meaningful learning experiences. Jay discusses the importance of aligning curriculum and gathering evidence of student understanding, while also highlighting the role of technology, specifically Edge Planet 21, in making curriculum planning more collaborative and effective. The platform supports both individual and district-wide planning, enhancing engagement and ensuring curricular coherence across schools.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding by Design (UBD) is a curriculum planning framework that helps students deepen their understanding of important ideas and apply their learning in real-world scenarios.
• 😀 The main goal of UBD is to teach students transferable skills that they can use in various situations, not just memorize basic information.
• 😀 UBD emphasizes gathering evidence of student understanding and transfer to ensure that learning outcomes are achieved effectively.
• 😀 One key focus of UBD is to make teaching and learning more engaging, relevant, and meaningful for students.
• 😀 When implementing UBD, schools should start by posing critical questions about current educational practices rather than just introducing a new framework.
• 😀 Professional development and support through workshops, consultants, and online learning paths are essential for successful UBD implementation.
• 😀 UBD requires ongoing assessment to monitor student engagement and understanding, ensuring adjustments are made based on results.
• 😀 Technology plays a critical role in curriculum design by providing tools that allow for collaboration and curriculum alignment at the individual, team, and district levels.
• 😀 Many districts use basic programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs for planning, but these tools are insufficient for creating a coherent, connected curriculum.
• 😀 Edge of Planet 21’s software is uniquely built on the UBD 2.0 template, making it the most suitable tool for curriculum design and alignment at school and district levels.
• 😀 Edge of Planet 21’s platform also offers professional learning support, enabling teachers to learn UBD while designing their curriculum and share insights across districts.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Understanding by Design (UBD)?

The primary focus of UBD is developing curriculum and learning experiences that help students deepen their understanding of important ideas, with the goal of transferring their learning to new, real-world situations.

Why is it important for students to learn transferable skills according to UBD?

In a world where much of the information can be Googled, and where the future is unpredictable, it is crucial for students to understand larger, transferable ideas that they can apply in various new contexts, rather than just memorizing basic facts.

What role does evidence play in UBD curriculum planning?

Evidence is crucial in UBD because it helps measure whether students are genuinely developing the ability to transfer their learning and deepen their understanding of key concepts. Teachers gather evidence through assessments to ensure students are meeting learning goals.

How does UBD aim to make teaching more engaging for students?

UBD helps make teaching more engaging by focusing on developing meaningful, relevant, and engaging learning experiences that resonate with students, encouraging active participation and deeper learning.

What is a recommended first step when a district starts implementing UBD?

A recommended first step is to pose critical questions about current teaching practices, such as whether students truly understand what is being taught, and what is worth teaching. This helps set up a need for UBD, rather than just introducing it as a new initiative.

How should school leaders support the implementation of UBD?

School leaders should support UBD implementation through professional development and support systems, such as workshops, consultant guidance, and online learning paths, while also monitoring the effectiveness of the curriculum in real-time.

What is the importance of technology in curriculum design, according to Jay?

Technology is critical in modern curriculum design because it allows for efficient planning, collaboration, and alignment. However, not all tools are equal, and it's important to use systems that enable robust collaboration and offer transparency across teachers, schools, and districts.

Why is the Edge of Planet 21 platform considered an effective tool for UBD?

Edge of Planet 21 is considered an effective tool for UBD because it is the only software built specifically on the UBD 2.0 template. It supports not only individual teachers but also school and district-wide curriculum planning, helping leaders monitor alignment, identify redundancies, and fill curriculum gaps.

How does Edge of Planet 21 software support professional learning?

Edge of Planet 21 integrates professional learning by providing online modules and learning paths. Teachers can learn about UBD principles while simultaneously designing their curriculum, sharing insights with colleagues, and receiving support from district leaders.

What makes Edge of Planet 21 different from other curriculum design tools?

Edge of Planet 21 is unique because it is the only licensed software built on the UBD 2.0 template, and it offers both curriculum planning tools and professional learning support. It enables schools to coordinate curriculum design at both micro and macro levels, providing transparency and fostering collaboration.