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From course-curriculum-creator
Guides backward design methodology for 1-2 day workshop curricula: identify outcomes first, then assessments, then aligned activities.
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Backward design (Understanding by Design/UbD) is a curriculum planning framework that starts with the end in mind. Instead of beginning with content or activities, design courses by first identifying desired learning outcomes, then determining assessment evidence, and finally planning learning experiences. This approach ensures every workshop component serves a clear purpose and students achiev...
Guides faculty through course design using backward design, constructive alignment, and Bloom's taxonomy. Supports learning outcomes, rubrics, assessments, syllabi, lesson plans, and inclusive pedagogy for face-to-face, online, or hybrid courses.
Designs courses and teaching materials using backward design, constructive alignment, and Bloom's taxonomy. Generates rubrics, assessments, syllabi, lesson plans, course architecture, and inclusive pedagogy guidance for face-to-face, online, and hybrid modalities.
Designs professional development sessions using adult learning principles with active teacher engagement. Use when planning INSET days, CPD workshops, or staff training sessions.
Share bugs, ideas, or general feedback.
Backward design (Understanding by Design/UbD) is a curriculum planning framework that starts with the end in mind. Instead of beginning with content or activities, design courses by first identifying desired learning outcomes, then determining assessment evidence, and finally planning learning experiences. This approach ensures every workshop component serves a clear purpose and students achieve measurable results.
For 1-2 day intensive workshops, backward design prevents common pitfalls: content overload, misaligned assessments, and activities that don't advance learning objectives. The framework creates focused, achievable curricula that maximize learning in compressed timeframes.
Start by answering: "What should students be able to do by the end of this workshop?"
Define learning outcomes:
Distinguish between:
For intensive workshops, prioritize enduring understanding. Avoid the coverage trap—don't try to teach everything. Select the most impactful outcomes students can reasonably achieve in 1-2 days.
Example outcomes for 2-day PropTech workshop:
Course positioning connection: Learning outcomes directly inform course positioning. The outcomes define:
Write outcomes in 01-planning/learning-objectives.md and reference them in 01-planning/course-positioning.md.
Before planning activities, establish how to measure whether students achieved the outcomes. Ask: "What evidence proves students can do what the outcomes specify?"
Assessment types for intensive workshops:
Performance tasks (most suitable for 1-2 day formats):
Other evidence:
Alignment principle (CRITICAL): Each learning outcome must have corresponding assessment evidence. Use this validation matrix:
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Method | Timing | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Outcome 1] | [How measured] | [When] | [What constitutes success] |
For intensive workshops:
Example assessments for PropTech workshop:
Document assessments in 03-assessment/rubrics.md with detailed evaluation criteria (see assessment design guidance in references/assessment-design.md).
Only after defining outcomes (Stage 1) and assessments (Stage 2), design the learning activities. Ask: "What experiences will equip students to perform well on the assessments?"
Principles for intensive workshop activities:
1. Alignment: Every activity must directly support outcomes and prepare for assessments
2. Active learning bias: Minimize passive lectures in favor of hands-on practice
3. Scaffolding: Progress from simple to complex across the workshop timeline
4. Contextualization: Ground all activities in real-world scenarios
5. Formative feedback loops: Check understanding continuously
Activity planning workflow:
Module structure template for intensive workshops:
Module Title [Timing: 90-120 minutes]
Learning Objective: [From Stage 1]
Assessment: [From Stage 2]
Instruction (15-20 minutes):
- Key concepts introduction
- Framework/tool explanation
- Worked example demonstration
Guided Practice (25-35 minutes):
- Structured exercise with support
- Instructor circulates and assists
- Debrief and address misconceptions
Independent Practice (40-50 minutes):
- Authentic application task
- Individual or small group work
- Mimics assessment format
Formative Check (10-15 minutes):
- Exit ticket or group share-out
- Gauge readiness for next module
- Address remaining questions
Document detailed lesson plans in 02-design/lesson-plans.md following this structure for each module.
Timeframe constraints:
Energy management:
Adult learner principles:
Practical logistics:
When creating a course using this plugin, apply backward design systematically:
Step 1: Define outcomes (/generate-objectives)
Step 2: Design assessments (/generate-rubrics)
Step 3: Plan activities (/generate-lesson-plans)
Step 4: Validate alignment (/review-curriculum or quality-reviewer agent)
Throughout: Reference course positioning to ensure outcomes serve target audience needs.
Use this checklist to validate backward design alignment:
Stage 1 (Outcomes):
Stage 2 (Assessments):
Stage 3 (Activities):
Overall Coherence:
Pitfall 1: Activity-first planning ❌ "I'll teach Porter's Five Forces, then value chain analysis, then..." ✅ "Students need to analyze PropTech use cases strategically (outcome). Porter's Five Forces is one tool to support that outcome."
Pitfall 2: Coverage obsession ❌ "I need to cover all 12 PropTech categories in 2 days." ✅ "I'll focus on 3 high-impact categories students can deeply understand and apply."
Pitfall 3: Assessment afterthought ❌ Plan all activities, then add assessment at the end. ✅ Define assessments before activities, then design activities that prepare for assessments.
Pitfall 4: Misaligned assessments ❌ Outcome: "Evaluate PropTech solutions." Assessment: Multiple-choice quiz on PropTech definitions. ✅ Outcome: "Evaluate PropTech solutions." Assessment: Rank three solutions using evaluation rubric with justification.
Pitfall 5: Underestimating time ❌ Plan 8 hours of content for a 6-hour workshop day. ✅ Plan 5 hours of instruction plus breaks, discussions, transitions, buffer time.
Pitfall 6: Passive learning dominance ❌ 4 hours of lecture, 1 hour of practice per day. ✅ 2 hours of instruction, 3 hours of practice per day (or 60/40 ratio).
For detailed guidance on specific aspects of backward design:
references/assessment-design.md - Comprehensive assessment planning strategiesAdditional reference files for activity patterns and timing guidelines are under development.
Apply backward design rigorously to create focused, effective curricula where every element serves clear learning outcomes. Start with the end in mind, plan assessments before activities, and validate alignment continuously throughout the design process.