This paper presents a lesson plan developed using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, targeting 11th and 12th grade students and their educators, with a particular focus on English Language Learners (ELLs). The paper outlines the aims and objectives of the plan, identifies its target audience — including mainstream teachers, ELL instructors, counselors, and faculty — and describes the expected effects and outcomes. Drawing on UbD's three-stage backward design process, the plan seeks to align assessment, curriculum, and instruction to deepen student understanding, support career decision-making, and promote lifelong, self-directed learning. The paper references Roth (2007) to ground its approach in established research and practice.
A creative approach is critical for embedding innovative problem-solving, creating opportunities for inquiry, and enhancing critical thinking for deep disciplinary knowledge. When a curriculum is to be coherent and cohesive across multiple grade levels, assessment protocols should establish the degree of success and integrate the curricular unit to enhance the desired learning outcomes. The Understanding by Design (UbD) framework provides an effective structure that helps address these key issues.
In the U.S. educational system, successful learning outcomes require an integration of meaningful assessment and content, coupled with effective pedagogy. However, the ability to develop a cohesive and coherent curriculum has become overwhelming even for experienced school teachers, and this challenge creates a barrier to students' efficient learning. UbD has been identified as an effective tool for overcoming these barriers by providing practical and concise guidance for both inexperienced and experienced teachers.
Typically, the UbD plan is designed to assist students to act and think like scientists, using the principles outlined in the framework to describe a useful and practical design process for identifying evidence of effective learning outcomes. Moreover, UbD provides an effective procedure to avoid content "overload by focusing on enduring principles" (Roth, 2007, p. 95). In essence, UbD is used to facilitate state educational standards while promoting self-directed teaching and lifelong learning.
The purpose of this project is to develop a lesson plan for educators of 11th grade and 12th grade students using the UbD framework.
The primary effect and end result of the UbD framework is to improve students' achievement by using a teacher's standard-driven curriculum. The lesson plan is also intended to assist teachers in clarifying learning goals, devising assessment strategies to enhance students' understanding, and crafting effective learning activities. Moreover, Understanding by Design will be used to deepen and develop students' understanding. Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding when presented with authentic, complex opportunities to apply and explain content in effective teaching contexts.
UbD will also enhance student performance through regular review of student work and results. Teachers will be more effective when receiving feedback from students, which will help them adjust their teaching approach and instructional design. The plan is also intended to make schools, teachers, and districts more effective by working harder and smarter through collaborative sharing and peer review of curriculum design.
"Anticipated impact on learning and teaching"
This lesson plan proposes developing the UbD framework to guide 11th grade educators and 12th grade students in deepening their English language knowledge. The lesson plan will assist in enhancing decision-making for both students and teachers by utilizing the language curriculum plan and guiding them in developing strategic literacy skills. The goal of the lesson plan is also to assist educators in strengthening language acquisition so they can better support English Language Learners (ELLs).
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