Module 7
Do you think any of your teachers used backward design to plan instruction? Why or why not?
Unfortunately, I don't remember any other examples of this type of teaching, so I would say that in general, our elementary school teachers did not use backward design. Rather, they used a textbook and notes to tell us what we needed to know.
I went to school in South Africa, where we went from elementary school to high school. We had a well equipped science lab in high school, but the experiments we carried out were prescribed and we were told from the outset what we should be finding. In this way, could this be considered backward design? The teacher knew what he wanted us to learn, and although he didn't use inquiry based learning, he did have the end in mind. In terms of assessments, we had to hand in lab reports, which were summaries of the day's activities, including data. We did not reflect on learning and I never remember the use of rubrics. Apart from the lab, we had lectures and took notes, which resulted in a test at the end of a unit. I remember extensive use of our science textbook, and practicing problems based on formulae.
In general then, I don't think that backward design was used by my teachers, but I do remember learning about some concepts in physics and chemistry that were very interesting and well taught.
Sally,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have had a great learning experience in South Africa! I can see that they taught not so differently than the teachers here taught when I was in elementary school. The sugar and water activity to show saturation is a great example of using Backwards Design! I completed an activity like this with my students during student teaching to show parts of the water cycle. Obviously, it had to last longer than a day, but at the end of the week, my students understood the concept or "big idea" that was intended for them to grasp from the very beginning.
I had an experience in high school like yours where the wanted outcome was given at the beginning of lab days. I believe that yes, this can be considered Backwards Design.
Sally,
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome that you had such a positive experience and still remember saturation to this day because of that teacher and lesson. Although this was not the typical case for your schooling, I think it's great that you can take away how powerful this experience was for you and keep that in mind when considering how to most effectively plan units for your students. Similarly to you, textbooks were the foundation of my science learning as a student. I think we all know that this is not the most effective model of teaching. After reading more about the backwards design model, this is definitely how I want to plan units in my classroom.
Sally,
ReplyDeleteI love that you still remember that activity. You seem to have had a positive learning experience. Like you, I don't remember the use of rubrics either. Honestly, I hadn't heard that word until college. I hope that since you remembered those moments where your teachers used backwards design, that you see it helps students. This will in turn encourage you to do the same.
Sally,
ReplyDeleteI think thats great you still remember that activity. I like doing those sorts of activities with my kids in my class because they wonder why does she keep doing that? I also had a lot of textbooks and tests at ends of units when I was in school too. I did have some teachers, like yours, tell me what I was supposed to find at the end of labs. I am not sure if they told us to help guide in backward design, or they told us because sometimes the experiments did not work?
I have always wanted to visit South Africa, Sally! I was actually considering teaching abroad there after college, but my fiancé got in the way :)
ReplyDeleteBack to education... my memories are very vague like yours. I rarely remember being presented an activity that was very hands on and interactive! I hope we can be better teachers :)