Creating an Understanding-Based Curriculum and Assessment System with Jay McTighe

Established Standards provide a clear set of worthy educational outcomes. However, the Standards are not curriculum. Educators must use the standards as a basis for designing high-quality curricula and assessments to support impactful teaching for effective learning. In addition to academic standards, a growing number of voices within and outside the educational establishment are calling for an enhanced emphasis on the “21^st century skills” of critical and creative thinking, collaboration and wise use of technology.

In this workshop, we’ll examine the ideas in Jay McTighe’s recent book, Leading Modern Learning: A Blueprint for Vision Driven Schools (Solution Tree), for transforming the Standards and 21^st century skills into a coherent curriculum that emphasizes understanding and long-term transfer. Key principles and practical tools from Understanding by Design (ASCD) and Schooling by Design (ASCD) will be offered to guide curriculum design and implementation.