Jingwei Viola Liu
Excellence in Professional Practice Indicator B
Indicator B: Facilitate and participate in learning communities that stimulate, nurture and support administrators, faculty, and staff in the study and use of technology.
Artifact:
Artifact & Course Description:
Course Title
GADS 5547 Advanced Curriculum
Course Description
The aim of this course was to address critical issues in curriculum research. The course covered needs assessments, curriculum implementation and change, and curriculum management. Additional topics include mapping and audit, instructional models, and curriculum evaluation.
Project Description
The assignment was to develop professional education using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework. The UbD framework is based on several components, including backward design, answering essential questions, and addressing the six facets of understanding. We were to develop a training suitable for professional such as other colleagues so they may understand UbD. I created an audio-visual presentation in Prezi on this topic.
Reflection
The UbD framework is very general, and can be applied to all types of educational needs. Whenever a training is necessary in the professional environment, answering the necessary questions in UbD and attending to the various facets of understanding will improve the delivery of the information. Applying a framework like this in professional education is important, because it will increase understanding in whoever takes the training. No one wants to waste time studying a subject and not understanding it, and using a UbD framework can prevent developing a training where at the end, there is no understanding.
UbD is a framework that, when followed, can facilitate professionals to participate in learning communities. We can more easily teach each other by applying the UbD framework when we develop trainings we share, such as workshops at conferences, and guidance on how to conduct certain types of learning. By using the UbD framework behind our trainings aimed at our colleagues, we can stimulate, nurture, and support administrators, faculty, and staff in the understanding, and application of technology.
References
McTighe, J., & Wiggins, G. (2012). Understanding by Design® framework. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.