“…too many teachers focus on the teaching and not the learning”.
Grant Wiggins And Jay McTighe
This seems to be the problem when analyzing the teaching-learning process; teachers prepare their classes thinking about how but not taking into consideration what, even better the what is previously given by the ministry, however, is not always the answer for student’s reality, needs and interests.
The objectives then, are the answer, nonetheless, how often teachers really focus on them?
Backward design suggests something that it seems obvious, but at the moment of thinking about what we are doing, makes us wonder not only about our profession but how we are doing it; maybe because there are too many things to do, maybe because time is not enough or even worst, only because we “know” what to do but we do not know.
The obvious is, to design classes considering three main stages: identify desired results, determine acceptable evidence and plan learning experiences and instruction, in other words, it is a backward glance, in which we consider first what it is expected, what concrete evidence we have to achieve the goals and finally prepare and think the best method to use, the materials needed, the activities, strategies, procedures we are going to use with a particular group of students, in a particular reality.
If we think about it, everything is done on the other way around; we usually think of how we are going to teach a content, which material or method we are going to use and finally on the results we expect from that; as the text says: “a typical episode of what might be called content-focused design instead of results-focused design” (p. 15).
This new focus is an alert…something is telling us that we need to start thinking clearly… I wonder if the Chilean problem (that a common student cannot speak English in spite of his/her 8 or 9 years of English instruction) is because teachers are focusing on how but not on what… maybe you can help me.
oh yes!!!...it sounds like if learning rather than teaching were the new suggested new educative trend...however what most makes sense to me is the idea of starting by the end, that is with the expected results in mind...
ResponderEliminarI clearly had the same idea when I read this chapter and I also wondered if the fact of following the traditional design focused in teaching rather than learning is the reason of the constant failure in achieving our students' learning.This Backward Design could be very useful in the case it was applicable as it is.Chilean reality is far away from adopting a design like this and succeed due to the teaching conditions we have to deal with, I mean lack of resources, large size classes or lack of interest of our students.
ResponderEliminarI think both are important: how and what. Remember that not all people have the same kinds of inteligence and, on the other hand, we don`t have to teach everything. Useful language in terms of communication.
ResponderEliminarIn all the years I have worked as a school teacher, I have never been given a program for English classes and I think the one given by the ministry of education is not clear enough to plan as proposed. In my opinion English teachers usually follow a coursebook because that gives them that clarity they need, especially considering that they do not have enough time to plan. Honestly, I think Chilean teachers are not considered as designers.
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ResponderEliminarI believe certain teachers at certain contexts do what they can with the little help of the oficial curriculum. Others, have lots of help from their school. And finally, there are some others who do not want to change covering or thinking forwards just because it's easier and there is no suficient motivation to start working as it should be.
ResponderEliminarI think that as teachers first we need to feel a little motivation, increase it by doing a great job and finally motivate our students.
Thus, I think we need to start thinking backwards in our lives first: what's my main goal as a teacher? which are going to be my resuslts? how can I achieve that?, then planning backwards will be a lot easier.
I never take sides!!!
ResponderEliminarTo believe that learning is before teaching or the other way around, is taking sides ignoring that we may be wrong. Education has to do with focusing on both teaching and learning at the same time. Teachers and students are equally important in education because they are part of the same system. That is why it is called Educational system!
Having questions is a heavy load on our backs.
ResponderEliminarWe need to develop certain skills in orden to tolerate uncertainty. Every time, we wonder what it is going on ,the surface under our feet seems to move from one place to another. Do we accept the movement ? Sometimes, we do.Some others, we rebel against of doubtfulness.