Backwards Design- A Quick Example

Backward Design Template
Identify Desired Outcomes
What broad overarching understandings are desired?	What are the potential overarching questions?
It is desired that students will understand the effect of different mediums within contemporary art.	Does contemporary art tell us about shifts in modern society? Is contemporary art more valued than traditional forms art?
What will students understand as a result of this unit? Link to a learning area in the curriculum.	What “guiding” and “unit” questions will focus this unit? Link to content descriptions in the curriculum.
I aim for them to understand how modern art has changed alongside society, and the positive and negative aspects of contemporary art forms Analyse a range of visual artworks from contemporary and past times to explore differing viewpoints and enrich their visual art-making, starting with Australian artworks, including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and consider international artworks (ACAVAR131)	How does modern art effect your practice? What is art? / Where do you draw the line at what is and isn’t art? Conceptualise and develop representations of themes, concepts or subject matter to experiment with their developing personal style, reflecting on the styles of artists, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists (ACAVAM125)
Determine Acceptable Evidence
What evidence will show that students understand…. Performance Tasks, Projects, Quizzes, Tests (Products, Processes, Procedures)
Journal work Quizzes on artists covered in direct teaching and research time Two small research essays, one on an artist, one on a technique or medium Personal art work created in relation to the unit, and how it reflects the subject Class engagement Fortnightly sessions of direct learning will be undertaken to give more detail of the development of contemporary art, and different artists for them to explore.
Other Evidence (e.g., observations, work samples, dialogues)	Student Self-Assessment
In-class observation, lines of questioning about their direction.	Students will self- reflect and address their ideas through their journal work. They should cover how they engage with certain works, what they want to do with their own practice, and examples of what they are journaling.
Plan Learning Experience and Instruction
Given the targeted understandings, other unit goals, and the assessment evidence identified, what knowledge and skills are needed?
Students will need to know… Students will need to know what effective journaling looks like They will need to know how to identify techniques within artworks They will need to know how to critique art to find meaning and form	Students will need to be able to… Students will need to be able to be self-driven in their exploration of the topic Students will need to be able to appropriate techniques
What teachings and learning experiences will equip students to demonstrate the targeted understandings?
Students will have past experience in critiquing art work and practicing an array of techniques. They will be shown the most beneficial ways of journaling well, by looking through examples that are achievable by their level.