Wiggins Capter 8

The chapter 8 of Understanding by Design written by Wiggins presents us ideas that should be considered as primarily when evaluating students’ performance. To use criteria means that students have to be evaluated according to their range of performance and not to expect that they can do something that is out of their abilities.

The first idea that we could see as necessary was the fact of using an appropriate criteria or rubrics when evaluating. It is important that students can feel confident, thus, performing anything appropriately. The great problem that wigging highlighted in the chapter was teachers paying attention to unnecessary aspects. To avoid this, it is essential that teachers pay interest in quality of something instead of quantity.

Using criteria where students can demonstrate that they really acquired the knowledge is our second idea. A rubric or a criterion that focus on application of understanding is more valuable and important. It indicates that students are prepared to go the next step in the cognitive development.

Finally, we got to the idea that it is important to create rubric base on the performance students had before. Therefore, teachers can see or have in mind the probably success of students. It is helpful for teachers because they can see how they increase their understanding. Even more, it helps you to see how well are you improving in your lessons.

Understanding by Design 2 edition

Along our career as student of English Pedagogy, we have found that the main teachers’ problem is in the area of design. Not because they do not know how to do it but, the lack of imagination to solve the problem that rise from this issue is the weakness that they cannot manage.

Wigging in his text Understanding by Design 2 edition, highlighted important ideas related to this issue. The first one is the fact of setting goals in class which help you to maintain a connection between the content and the assessment to obtain good performances in the learning outcomes. It is necessary that the teacher put emphasis in the appropriate interaction of these elements, thus, having a better achievement of the goals. However, the importance of this point is the decision that teachers have to take based on the learning that she/he is going to teach, thus appealing the right skill and understanding.

The next idea is what they called “standard movement” which refers to the students’ knowledge and the ability to apply it in different fields. However the reality is different enough and the well functioning of this aspect have not been possible. The reason, teachers do not realize, actually, do not want to understand that if they do not prioritize the content of their lesson students will not master their cognitive abilities.

Finally, we found important to point out the “Big ideas” what called my attention the most here is how important is try to arrive or appeal to the big ideas that students are building in their minds because it helps them to develop their ability to reflect. We strongly believe this is the way to encourage to our students that they can develop their critical thinking and the deductive ability.