Backward Design
In this article, we will explore what backward design is, why it has had such a significant impact on e-Learning design and how it is undertaken.
Backward design, also known as backward planning or backward mapping, is a method used to develop learning experiences and instructional techniques aimed at achieving specific learning goals. This approach starts with defining the objectives of a unit or course—what learners are expected to learn and accomplish—and then works "backward" to design lessons that meet these goals.
Designing backwards.
The main rationale behind backward design is that starting with the end goal, rather than beginning with the first lesson in a unit or course, helps instructional designers create a learning experience that ensures learners reach the learning goals—essentially, learning what they are intended to learn.
Since "beginning with the end" can be counterintuitive, backward design provides a structured framework for instructional designers when creating a curriculum and planning their instructional approach. Proponents argue that the instructional process should serve the goals, not the other way around.
Backward design is commonly used in education; however, it has great merit for use in the development of learning experiences within the commercial world and has similarities with the Action Mapping model. Determining the end point for the learner, enables a logical sequence of learning steps to be developed to get the learner there.
““To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.””