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=Learning Management Systems=

Since I do not prepare lesson plans I tried to think of how I could relate the subject of backward design to the work I do. Before I became an advisor, I worked as a case manager/ job coach and helped people get the training and resources (i.e. child care, transportation, etc.) they needed to overcome barriers to employment. When dealing with welfare recipients, probationers, and the chronically unemployed you find that there are numerous challenges as to why they are not working. We were given the task of assisting each of them with writing an individual employment plan (IEP).When I first began there were no clear guidelines for writing IEP’s and each case manager had their own method that they used. So we worked together to come up with a uniform process for setting goals that was easy enough for everyone to use but yet was individualized and clearly addressed the needs and goals for the job seeker.

Looking back now, I think we were using backward design principles because we started with a specific overall goal such as “To obtain employment in the field”, and from that point we addressed each need or barrier whether it was training or resources. Then once we had identified the needs and barriers to employment, we went back and filled in specific action steps for addressing needs and a plan for removing each barrier. This small change in our operating process had a tremendous impact and greatly enhanced the effectiveness of our program. Not only did the job seeker have a better understanding of what their goals and barriers were, but the case manager had a clearer understanding as well. The plan could be revised at any time based on an agreement between the case manager and the job seeker. Anytime that there was a unexpected detour in the plan, it was easy to see where we had gotten off track and where we needed to be because there were time frames attached to each goal and action step. It was supposed to be a collaborative effort between the job seeker and the job coach, but it did not always end up that way. The process also helped deal with the challenges of working with job seekers over the long term and dealing with frequent changes of case management staff.

In The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses it lists the first standard for content when designing an online course is that “the course goals and objectives are measureable and clearly state what the participants will know or be able to do at the end of the course.”(2006) I would like to think that my approach to designing instruction would be in the same manner as I approached the challenges in case management. By “beginning with the end in mind” as Covey states, the “backward design” process helps educators to identify and address the needs of their students and to remain focused on the goals and outcomes they are trying to achieve. My impression of the “backward design” process is that it is a good principle to follow and will make a positive impact when designing instruction.

North American Council for Online Learning (2006). National standards of quality for online learning. Retrieved on April 26, 2010, at []

In our previous course "Leadership for Accountability" we learned that all decisions should be made based on the mission and values of the school. The vision of any organization is commonly articulated through creating a mission or purpose statement. That vision is what unites stakeholders to work toward a common goal. Using backward design may take more time, but I can see where it would enable students and teachers to focus on common goals and enable them to work more collaboratively in much the same way as having a mission statement brings stakeholders together to achieve success.

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