2. Thinking Backwards
Getting Started
Pre-Assessment
Welcome and Overview
Unit Goal: begin to think backwards when planning a lesson.
Unit Objectives:
- Compare the typical lesson planning process with backwards planning.
- Recognize that the difference between the typical lesson planning process and the backwards planning process is the starting point and the focus.
- Identify the main focus and starting point of the backwards lesson planning process.
- Translate success in a faith based experience to a heart based action response taken by young people after the experience.
- Believe that working backwards when planning a lesson is beneficial for you and your young people.
Organizer For Your Notes
Click here to download the Organizer for Your Notes.
Vocabulary
Backwards Design (Backwards Lesson Planning)
A general framework to use when planning a lesson or experience. Start with the end in mind and work backwards to plan the experience for you young people.
Prayer
The Big Idea
Judy Comes Face to Face with Reality
Locate your favorite resource and open to a chapter for a topic you will teach in the next month. Review the structure and the order of how things are laid out. How do you think they came up with this plan? Jot down some notes on your notes organizer that you downloaded. Then join us in the next video segment.
Explore a Resource
Consider Thinking Backwards
Applications in the Field
Summary Infographic
The backwards design process is different from the typical lesson planning approach in its starting place and focus. Unlike the typical lesson planning process which usually starts by planning the information you will present to your audience, the backwards design process, starts with the end — a learner (person) centered goal that describes what the young people will be able to do after the session based on the topic. This will be the place to aim for with your instruction, and the rest of the planning process will work towards that goal. Instead of the typical planning process where the focus is on order of delivery by the teacher, the focus for the backwards planning process is on the success of the learner (your young people). This process can be used with any age group and for any type of experience. A summary in the form of an infographic is available for you to download here and refer to in the future.
In the next unit, we will begin the first phase of the backwards design process, and identify that critical “goal”! See you there.
Finishing Up
