Websites and Online Tools:

• Understanding by Design (UBD) website: https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-cft/resources/teaching_resources/theory/design.htm – This official website offers comprehensive information about UBD, including resources, examples, tools, and professional development opportunities.
• The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST): https://udlguidelines.cast.org/ – CAST focuses on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which aligns closely with UBD principles. They provide excellent resources for creating accessible and effective learning experiences.
• Backward Design Planner: https://teach4theheart.com/books/ – This free online tool walks you through the backward design process step-by-step, helping you develop assessments, learning activities, and learning goals.
• LessonLab: https://lessonlab.org/ – Another free online tool, LessonLab allows you to collaborate with colleagues on lesson plans and provides templates for backward design.

Books and Articles:

• Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe: This seminal book is considered the foundational text for UBD and provides a detailed explanation of the framework and its implementation.
• Making Backward Design Practical by Heidi Hayes Jacobs: This book offers practical strategies and real-world examples for applying UBD in the classroom.
• The Art and Science of Teaching by Robert Marzano: While not specifically about UBD, this book presents research-based teaching practices that align well with backward design principles.
• “The Three Big Ideas of Backward Design” by Robert J. Marzano: This article provides a concise overview of the key concepts of UBD.

Professional Development and Training:

• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): ASCD offers various workshops, webinars, and online courses on backward design.
• Edutopia: Edutopia provides online resources and professional development opportunities related to effective teaching practices, including backward design.
• Your local school district or professional organization: Many school districts and professional organizations offer professional development opportunities on backward design for educators.

Additional Resources:

• Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning (CTAL): https://educationaltechnology.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/backward-design.pdf This resource from University of Delaware provides comprehensive information and practical guides for implementing UBD.
• The Education Trust: https://edtrust.org/edtrusted-2/ This education think tank offers research and resources on effective teaching practices, including backward design.
• National Standards and Frameworks: These documents often offer helpful guidance on learning goals and objectives, which can inform your backward design process.