The Value of Backward Design

 

http://www.sjsu.edu/people/waimei.fang/courses/coursedesign/coursedesign.jpg

     Throughout all of my teaching and education courses this term, the topic of "backward design" has continuously been debated. "Is this an effective lesson planning strategy? Is this a beneficial way of constructing a lesson? Is it wise to design the final activity prior to highlighting the main lesson objectives?" These kinds of questions frequently arose within our university seminar discussions.  From a personal perspective, I tended to enjoy completing an activity using a step by step process. For example, during my physical education lessons, I enjoyed establishing my lesson objectives first and then progressing towards my final activity.  I believe I constructed my lessons in this order simply because I was never introduced to the idea of "backward design"throughout my elementary and secondary school classes.

     I was first introduced to the notion of backward design after I completed a third-year educational gymnastics course with Dr. Maureen Connolly.  Instead of writing a final exam, our class was encouraged to create a final gymnastic sequence.  Within this sequence we would implement various movement forms that were learned throughout the term.  During the construction process of this final sequence, my group members and I were struggling with the order of our sequences.  Under the guidance of Dr. Connolly, we were encouraged to think of the big picture before implementing apparatuses, objects and music into our routine.  After we began to describe the main portion of our sequence, we were then able to work backwards towards the smaller aspects of our sequence.  Through this experience, I learned the true value and purpose of backward design principles.

     Since that third-year class, I am now a strong advocate of backward design.  For every lesson plan I construct, I first start with my final product and work backwards towards my lesson objectives.  I believe that I can implement more effective developmental progressions into my lesson when utilizing backward design concepts.  For example, in regards to my physical education lessons, I now construct my main movement skills first and then work progressively backwards from larger concepts (large movement skills) back to smaller steps and tasks (smaller movement skills).          

     This video, that I have implemented into this blog, perfectly describes the importance of backward design.  In order for an entire group of friends to enjoy their day together backward design needs to be utilized.  As you will see, the student's initial day trip is ruined due to a lack of planning.  Once students group together to create a final activity they can then plan the little steps they will need to implement in order to reach their final goal.                

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xzi2cm9WTg

     In regards to our future curriculum project, I hope to encourage my group members to utilize the planning strategy of backward design.  Perhaps I will have to share this blog with them in order for them to become more accepting of my non-traditional method of planning. :)    

References

Drake, S. M., Reid, J. L., Kolohon, W. (2013). Interweaving curriculum and classroom

assessment. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press