All courses are still available for registration. Small modifications have been made to courses due to school closures in consequence of COVID-19. Click here for further information.

Understanding by Design: Using Backwards Planning

Understanding by Design: Using Backwards Planning

Course Description

This course introduces the idea of backwards planning when it comes to designing a unit.  Students have the chance to participate in the process of “Understanding by Design” (UbD) while creating a unit by designing it backwards with the end in mind first.  This involves first analyzing the standards and end goals of a unit and then implementing lessons that meet those standards and goals.  By using this backwards design process, there is a much higher chance of students achieving mastery of standards in the classroom.

Trust Symbol Credits for Teachers No Risk.png
Trust Symbol Credits for Teachers SSL.png

Course Numbers

  • Adams State: ED 589
  • UMass Global: EDDU 9618
  • CSU Pueblo: ED 501

 

Course Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Students will be able to learn the steps of how to backwards plan a unit of study in their curriculum.
  • Students will be able to explain the process of “Understanding by Design” (Ubd) and then backwards plan a unit using the steps of UbD.
  • Students will be able to apply their backwards design plan while teaching in the classroom.
  • Students will develop skills to reflect on & improve their own teaching practices.

 

Relevancy to Practice: This course provides educators with the following relevant information to help improve their practice:

  • Backwards planning the units of study within your curriculum through the use of the process “Understanding by Design”.
  • Starting with the end in mind when planning your units to create a clear path to understanding for your students.
  • Analyzing standards and unit end goals first when designing lessons to improve students’ mastery of the content.
  • Designing and implementing purposeful lessons that connect to the standards.
  • Understanding why backwards planning is more effective at helping students truly understand the content.
  • Strategies for incorporating the “Understanding by Design” process, including a summary of key terms as well as backwards design unit templates.

Course Format 

This is an online course. Please use course materials emailed to you upon your original registration.

UbD: Using Backwards Planning Syllabus

Click here for a preview syllabus for the “graduate level version” of the course. This syllabus applies to students receiving credits from Adams State University or UMass Global or those taking the course for Continuing Education (no credits).

Click here for a preview syllabus for the “Master’s (degree seeking) version” of the course. This syllabus applies to students receiving credits from Colorado State University Pueblo. This version is also graduate level and can be (but does not have to be) used towards an online Master’s degree with CSU Pueblo.

No-Risk Guarantee: 

You can cancel a course registration within 30-days and receive a 100% refund, no questions asked.

Registration Now Open: Register now and receive your course materials within 24 hours.  Course materials are due within 6 months of registering for the course.

Price:

Starting at $189.00

Credits:

3

Graduate Credits

*Pricing may not include University Fees. Select option to include fees.

University Fee

Course fee may or may not include the university’s registration fee depending on the university partner. University fees are not included in the registration fee for Adam’s State University and University of Massachusetts Global. 

Those additional fees are:
University of Massachusetts Global: $70/credit
Adam’s State University: $55/credit  

Instructions for how to register with your selected University Partner and pay additional fees will be provided after registering with Credits for Teachers.

University fees for Colorado State University Pueblo are included in the course fees. 

Please note that we cannot grant refunds for students who have already turned in work for a course, even if it is within the 30-day window.

Refunds Policy

Students are able to request a full refund of any Credits for Teachers course within 30 days of registration.  In order to do so, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name and the course you registered for and we will complete the refund.

Exchange Policy

Students are able to exchange one course for another within 30 days of registration as long as the course price is the same and the student does not change the university Partner.  In order to exchange a course, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name, course you have registered for and the course you would like to switch to.

Please note that we cannot exchange a course once for students who have already submitted their course for grading, even if it is within the 30-day window.

Transfer Policy

Students that would like to transfer their course from one university partner to another may have the opportunity to do so within the first 30 days of registering for a course.  In order to transfer your course to a different University Partner, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name, the course you are currently registered for and the new University Partner you’d like to switch to.