Notes on UBD Lecture by Grant Wiggins

Introduction to UBD (Understanding by Design)

• UBD is a planning framework, not a philosophy or teaching approach.
• Emphasis on being goal-focused and effective in teaching.
• A good plan does not guarantee a good teacher; pedagogical skills are also crucial.

Purpose of UBD

• Aims to prepare educators for both short-term and long-term goals.
• Quote: "Chance favors the prepared mind" (Pasteur).
• Be prepared for teachable moments that align with educational objectives.

Key Concepts

• Autonomy and Proactivity: The goal is to build independent and thoughtful learners, not just to cover content.
• Content vs. Performance: Focus on engaging students in content while emphasizing their performance.
• Misalignment is common between immediate activities and long-term goals, specifically in critical and creative thinking.

Critical and Creative Thinking

• Valued in mission statements but often not prioritized in practice.
• Straight A's can be achieved without critical and creative thinking; compliance can mask a lack of understanding.
• Backward Design: If long-term goals include critical thinking, curriculum must reflect this weekly.

Case Study: Prep School Example

• A prestigious prep school tested students' critical thinking upon entry and graduation with no significant improvement.
• Highlights the importance of not just admitting smart students but actively fostering their growth in critical thinking.

Importance of Strategic Thinking

• Observations from soccer coaching: A lack of strategic thinking leads to disorganized play.
• Example of a coaching technique used to foster strategic responses among players.

Self-Assessment and Goal Setting

• Encourage students to self-assess against their goals.
• Importance of transparency in goal setting helps students understand and commit to long-term objectives.

Exercise: Mission Statement

• Participants were asked to create a one-sentence mission statement for their course.
• This activity promotes backward design thinking: If you know your goal, what assessments and instructional methods should follow?

Instructional Considerations

• Focus on fostering a love for reading rather than just measuring reading proficiency.
• Caution against requiring too much structure, which can undermine motivation (especially in boys).

Conclusion

• Assessments should reflect the goals of instruction.
• Engage in discussion to identify actionable steps for aligning assessments and instruction with established goals.