The Understanding by Design Handbook

What is understanding, and how does it differ from knowing? How will we know that students truly understand and can apply their knowledge in meaningful ways? How might we design our courses and units to emphasize understanding and "uncoverage" rather than "coverage"? These are questions that The Understanding by Design Handbook guides users in answering.

The handbook is the companion book to Understanding by Design (ASCD, 1998). Understanding by Design provides the conceptual foundation for a theory of understanding that is based on six facets of understanding. The handbook offers the practical side: a unit planning template, worksheets, exercises, design tools, design standards and tests, and a peer review process for learning and applying the ideas in Understanding by Design. Following the logic of the authors' backward design approach, handbook materials show users how to plan curriculum, assessment, and instruction.

The handbook was developed to assist educators interested in designing units and courses of study that focus on developing and deepening students' understanding. It is also intended to serve as a resource for undergraduate and graduate-level coursework and in-service professional development. Various users, including teachers (elementary through graduate levels), school-based administrators, curriculum directors, subject matter specialists, staff developers, and assessment-evaluation personnel, will benefit from these practical and proven ideas and resources.