ASCD Arias Publication

Curriculum design experts Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins have reviewed thousands of curriculum documents and unit plans across a range of subjects and grades. In this book, they identify and describe the 25 most common problems in unit design and recommend how to fix them – and avoid them when planning new units.

The design process in Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design proposes that effective curriculum is planned backward from long-term aims through a three-step design process:

1. Identify desired results
2. Specify assessment evidence
3. Detail the learning plan.

This backward design process helps to avoid  the common twin problems of textbook coverage and activity-oriented teaching in which no clear priorities and purposes are apparent. The process helps teachers help students uncover important ideas of content while promoting meaningful student engagement around outcomes that matter.

McTighe and Wiggins, authors of Understanding by Design, help you use the process of backward design to trouble shoot your units and achieve tighter alignment and focus on learning priorities. Whether you’re working with local or national standards or with other learning goals, you can rely on their practical and proven solutions to promote deeper and better learning for your students.