CHAPTER 1: BACKWARD DESIGN.
Backward design points out that teachers have to start with an end- the desired results (goals or standards) then derive the curriculum from the evidence of learning (performances) and finally plan learning experiences and instruction to promote understanding. Students’ needs are priorities where instructional strategies and assessment revolve around them.
Teachers, unlike other professionals, are the ones who have the role of encompassing every stage of a process to make it successful. There are some professions which divide duties to achieve an objective. For instance, regarding the process of constructing a building, architects are in charge of designing the plan of it. After that, engineers play the role of working out materials which are going to be used and finally builders construct the building. Many professionals are responsible for the project.
On the contrary, talking about education, “effective” teachers should be in charge of the whole process. We should decide upon learning objectives. When the objectives are clear, we should create rubrics which reflect what we expect students to learn and should consider students’ needs without loosing the objective. Finally, we should collect material and plan the lesson and the assessment. A difficult task, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, this way of seeing teaching is not shared by some teachers. They focus their classes on covering contents which are meaningless, they skip stages and to make the matter even worse, they do not reflect on their classroom practices. Why? I dare to say that this situation happens because teachers are used to teach the way they were taught in school. Their previous experiences marked them.
To conclude, I would like to say that the only way to stop this vicious circle is to share this design with our colleagues and start using it in our classroom practices. In other words, we have to become role models who look for a higher education. Don’t you think?
I think that the problem does not entirely lie on the teachers, because the professional formation that we received was not focused on the achievment of specific goals, on the contrary we were taught without having awareness of what was teaching and learning for.
ReplyDeletePersonally I regard that the responsability is in the hands of the authorities who should be in charge of establishing concrete goals and reformulate the current methods that the system proposes. Undoubtedly this is the only way in which we can stop this vicious circle, allowing the free access to a new educational proposal which has a clear end and a mean too. The change has to be made for all the participants in education and not only for few of them.
I think so too, we are fortunate to have the opportunity of reading about this interesting topic.We now know how to do things in the right way, easy or not, we have to be models and guide our collegues who are still stuck following the textbooks and teaching empty lessons, I'm not saying that my classes are perfect, but at least I have some more tools to help me.
ReplyDeleteVicky
Yes Paloma, team work seems to be key alter reading, reflecting and discussing. We are maybe a sort of references thus we know that there are other effective ways to provide real understanding therefore learning. But teachers’ beliefs are strong so the task is huge without taking into account that our educational system seems to be in the wrong track… Anyway, let’s take action beginning from us.
ReplyDeleteThx for all your reflections!
Dear Paloma,
ReplyDeleteAs you say, teachers, unlike other professionals, are the ones who have the role of encompassing every stage of a process to make it successful. Planning, design, rubrics, assessment, etc. are all in hands of teachers, yet decisions are made by people who not only don't know the teaching field, but also create all kinds of obstacles for techers.
Let's hope that all these changes promised by the president candidates have something to do with this situation.
I think you are right on your final idea, books like this are worth to share, but here we have another problem, are the rest of the teachers willing to learn new thing in order to improve their practices?.
ReplyDeleteYou're right dear Paloma... we as teachers are in charge of designing, putting in practice and assessing our job. And therefore, we need to have clarity in our goals and the how we are going to achieve those goals. But this sounds huge! Yes, I think it is huge and unfortunately we are the only ones who see it. Because most people think it's as simple as getting into a classroom and teach something. But we know it's much more than that. Then, why are teachers so undervalued in our society? I can't understand it.
ReplyDelete