Grant Wiggins

Definition

Grant Wiggins is an influential educator and co-creator of the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, which focuses on designing curriculum with a clear understanding of desired learning outcomes. His work emphasizes the importance of backward design, where educators first identify what students should learn and then develop assessments and learning activities to achieve those goals. This approach connects assessment practices directly to curriculum development, ensuring that educational objectives guide the entire teaching process.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Grant Wiggins' UbD framework promotes a clear alignment between learning goals, assessments, and instructional strategies, ensuring that all aspects of teaching are interconnected.
2. The backward design model encourages educators to think critically about what they want students to understand and be able to do by the end of a unit or course.
3. Wiggins advocates for the use of authentic assessments that reflect real-world applications of knowledge, enhancing student engagement and understanding.
4. His work emphasizes that assessments should inform instructional practices, allowing teachers to adjust their methods based on student performance data.
5. Wiggins believes that effective curriculum development requires collaboration among educators to create a cohesive learning experience that meets diverse student needs.

Review Questions

• How does Grant Wiggins’ concept of backward design influence the formulation of curriculum goals?
  • Grant Wiggins’ backward design approach significantly influences the formulation of curriculum goals by prompting educators to start with the end in mind. This means that teachers first identify the desired learning outcomes before planning lessons and assessments. As a result, curriculum goals become clearer and more focused, ensuring that all teaching activities are aligned with what students are ultimately expected to know and do.
• In what ways can assessment data derived from Wiggins’ framework enhance curriculum decisions?
  • Assessment data derived from Grant Wiggins’ framework can enhance curriculum decisions by providing concrete evidence of student understanding and areas needing improvement. By analyzing this data, educators can make informed adjustments to their teaching strategies and curricular content to better meet the needs of their students. This continuous feedback loop helps in refining both instruction and assessment methods to support student success.
• Evaluate the impact of authentic assessment as described by Grant Wiggins on student learning outcomes in modern education.
  • The impact of authentic assessment as described by Grant Wiggins on student learning outcomes is profound in modern education. By focusing on real-world tasks that require critical thinking and application of knowledge, students engage more deeply with the material and retain information better. This shift from traditional testing methods to authentic assessments fosters skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and self-directed learning, which are essential for success beyond the classroom. Ultimately, it leads to more meaningful learning experiences and prepares students for real-life challenges.

Related terms

Backward Design: A curriculum design approach that starts with identifying the desired outcomes or learning goals before planning instruction and assessments.

Understanding by Design (UbD): A framework for curriculum planning developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, emphasizing the alignment of learning goals, assessments, and instructional strategies.

Authentic Assessment:

An assessment approach that evaluates students' abilities in real-world contexts, focusing on meaningful tasks rather than traditional testing methods.