In curriculum design, backwards planning starts by determining what skills and concepts students need to master and how learners will demonstrate mastery. In many ways, backwards planning is the same process as planning a road trip.
When planning a road trip, the first step is to plan the final destination. Will you visit a beach, a theme park, a cruise or a large city? Similarly, start by planning your learning destination. Will your students be able to analyze a text for use of rhetorical devices? Will your students be able to how to find a mead, mode and median?
The next step in planning road trip is planning the route. Will you fly, drive, or take a train? On which airline will you fly? Where will you stop overnight if you drive? As you plan your learning route, determine what exercises and lessons students need to arrive at the ability to master the final learning destination. Do students need to see examples of rhetorical devices before reading the text? Do students need to first practice using the definitions of mead, mode and median?
If backwards planning feels like an overwhelming process, break it down the same way you would when planning a road trip. First determine your ultimate destination and then determine how you will arrive there.