All secondary schools within the Diocese of Cleveland have been invited to participate in this professional development initiative focusing on the facets of Understanding by Design.  A yearlong series of professional development dates led by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins focused on the following principles in relation to Understanding by Design:

 

• It is a way of thinking purposefully about curricular planning and school reform – not a program or recipe.
• The end goal is learner understanding and the ability to transfer learnings.
• Evidence of understanding is revealed through performance – when learners transfer knowledge and skills effectively.
• Educators are coaches of understanding, not mere purveyors of content or activity.(2001 Wiggins and McTighe)

 

During the 2006-2007 school year secondary educators will work with John Brown and Janie Smith from ASCD to continue their work in the second year of the Understanding by Design