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A Guide to Backward Design

Designing with Love

Created on July 6, 2025

Use this guide to help you learn the three stages of Backward Design and how it can be used in instructional design projects.

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Transcript

A Guide to Backward Design

Use this guide to help you learn more about the three stages of the Backward Design model when designing learning experiences.

Stage 1

Stage 3

Identify Desired Results
Plan Learning Experiencs and Instruction

Stage 2

Determine Acceptable Evidence

Determine Acceptable Evidence

This stage is about assessments, both formative and summative. However, its not just about quizzes or tests. You can also consider the following:

  • Roleplays
  • Simulations
  • Projects
  • Real-life tasks

Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Here's where you finally get to plan your lessons and activities. Now that you know your goals and assessments, you can ask the following:

  • What knowledge and skills do learners need to succeed on those assessments?
  • What instructional strategies, resources, or technologies support the learning?
  • What activities will make the learning stick?

Identify Desired Results

This stage is all about asking the following question: What should learners know, understand, and be able to do at the end of this learning experience? During this stage, it is a good idea to ask yourself the following:

  • What are the learning goals or objectives?
  • What are the essential things learners need to understand?
  • What big ideas should learners retain long after the course ends?