In backward design, which statement is true?

In backward design, which statement is true?

• A. It starts with activities and materials, then determines outcomes
• B. It ignores end goals
• C. It identifies desired outcomes and assessments first, then designs learning experiences
• D. It is not used in standards-based curricula

Answer: (C)

Backward design starts with what students should understand and be able to do. In this approach, you first identify the desired outcomes and the assessments that will show whether those outcomes have been met. Only after those are clear do you plan the learning experiences and materials that will lead students to reach the goals. This order ensures every activity, task, and resource is aligned to the end goals and the evidence you'll use to judge learning, which fits well with standards-based curricula. If you were to start with activities, or ignore the end goals, the instruction wouldn’t reliably lead to the intended outcomes or provide a coherent way to assess learning. Backward design is a common, effective approach in standards-based curricula because it emphasizes alignment among goals, assessment, and instruction.

Backward design starts with what students should understand and be able to do. In this approach, you first identify the desired outcomes and the assessments that will show whether those outcomes have been met. Only after those are clear do you plan the learning experiences and materials that will lead students to reach the goals. This order ensures every activity, task, and resource is aligned to the end goals and the evidence you'll use to judge learning, which fits well with standards-based curricula.

If you were to start with activities, or ignore the end goals, the instruction wouldn’t reliably lead to the intended outcomes or provide a coherent way to assess learning. Backward design is a common, effective approach in standards-based curricula because it emphasizes alignment among goals, assessment, and instruction.