Understanding by Design (UBD): Some Strengths

Submitted by admin on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 02:37
 
UNDERSTANDING BY DESIGN is a tool for educational planning focused on "teaching for understanding". It emphasizes on "backward design" or the method of identifying the outcomes first to design the curriculum, performance assessments, and classroom instruction. UBD covers three Stages—1: Identify Desired Results; 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence/Assessment; 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction. Its main theory is to ascertain that all learning activities are anchored on the “road to understanding” and not on the predictable trip to rote method.
 
Strengths:
Student-centered
It assesses the students’ ability before planning for the appropriate materials and activities. It enables students to have a better understanding of the lessons.

Makes learning interesting and multi-dimensional
It helps the students to practice the six facets of understanding—to explain, interpret, apply, have perspective, empathize, and have self-knowledge about a given topic. The approach also aims to make learning more focused, engaging, coherent, effective, and rich in context.

Develops teachers’ creativity and sense of responsibility
Emphasizing the teacher's critical role as a designer of student learning, UbD encourages and helps teachers clarify learning goals, devise revealing assessments of student understanding, and craft effective and engaging learning activities. It requires instructors to have first understanding of the teaching environment, and then plan on how to be effective in teaching students.

Provides a better plan of curriculum
Many pertinent factors are considered before designing the curriculum. It carefully determines students’ ability that teaching will be effective and a good student learning is provided.

Flexible and opens doors for various styles
It allows introduction of new teaching methods. It gives room for adjustments of the teaching styles for the students to achieve the desired learning outcomes.

How to cite this article:
Jensen dG. Mañebog. “Understanding By Design (UBD): Some Strengths.” @ www.OurHappySchool.com

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