Understanding by Design

The Understanding by Design® framework (UbD™ framework) offers a planning process and structure to guide curriculum, assessment, and instruction. Its two key ideas are contained in the title: 1) focus on teaching and assessing for understanding and learning transfer, and 2) design curriculum “backward” from those ends.¹

Here are some ways to learn about UbD:

• UbD White Paper by Wiggins and McTighe
• Understanding by Design for higher education
• For a collection of UbD resources, including books, articles, and videos, click here

Here are some UbD resources:

• Click here for a copy of the UbD template
• For UbD applied to higher education, click here

¹McTighe, J., & Wiggins, G. (2012). Understanding by Design framework. ASCD.  https://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/publications/UbD_WhitePaper0312.pdf