Chapter 1: UbD and DI: An Essential Partnership

Understanding by design and differential instruction must be intertwined within a teaching method. In order to be successful incorporating one method into the classroom, it is imperative to implement the other. UbD is a "curriculum design model" and DI is a "instructional design model," and in this way the two systems compliment each other. This impacts me as a future teacher because these two systems address important questions such as: how, what, whom, and where we teach. A few ways this chapter suggests addressing these questions is by pre-assessment, teaching to the students' needs, and using the backwards model to present the important ideas. This impacts my future students by, hopefully, more appropriately meeting their learning style needs more effectively. Ways that the chapter suggests to incorporate Ubd and DI to help my students is by the following: create a supportive, encouraging, goal oriented, but challenging environment in which the students' needs are met, impart on them the understanding of not only the big picture, but also how it applies to them, and help them gain the tools and skills they need to continue their discovery on their own.