Understanding by Design in Higher Education

Designing Coursework for Deeper Learning
This text applies the curriculum planning principles of Understanding by Design (UbD), which are widely adopted throughout K-12 education, to higher education.

Understanding by Design® (UbD) is an internationally renowned curriculum development framework that has been used by educators across the world for more than three decades. The key ideas of the UbD framework are contained in its title: 1) prioritize the development of in-depth understandings to facilitate transfer for real-world applications; and 2) apply a three-stage design process for creating curricula toward those ends.

Though most widely used in K-12 schools, UbD can be applied to guide postsecondary faculty in designing courses to deepen students’ understanding and promote transfer in professional settings. Given the reality that most higher education faculty have little to no preparation in designing curriculum, the practical three-stage backward design framework can support them in applying their disciplinary expertise to develop coursework for deeper learning and transfer.

The goal of this book is to support faculty in thoughtfully designing coursework that prioritizes students’ understanding, incorporates authentic and engaging assessments, and encourages active learning for understanding and transfer beyond the college classroom. Rather than recycling old syllabi or simply covering the chapters of a textbook, faculty will learn to harness their rich academic and professional expertise to design meaningful, authentic, and engaging curriculum.

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