How do you plan your K-12 curriculum design goals and outcomes?

1 Identify your standards

The first step in planning your curriculum design goals and outcomes is to identify the standards that you need to address in your subject area and grade level. Standards are the statements of what students should know and be able to do by the end of a unit or a course. They are usually developed by state or national authorities and provide a common framework for curriculum development. You can find your standards online or in your curriculum documents and use them as a guide for your goals and outcomes.

2 Write your goals

The next step is to write your goals for your curriculum unit or course. Goals are the broad and general statements of what you want your students to learn and achieve. They are derived from the standards and reflect your vision and purpose for teaching. For example, a goal for a science unit on ecosystems might be: Students will understand the interactions and interdependence of living and nonliving things in different ecosystems. You can write your goals using verbs that describe cognitive, affective, or psychomotor domains of learning, such as understand, appreciate, or perform.

3 Write your outcomes

The third step is to write your outcomes for your curriculum unit or course. Outcomes are the specific and measurable statements of what students will be able to do or demonstrate as evidence of their learning. They are derived from the goals and aligned with the standards. For example, an outcome for the science unit on ecosystems might be: Students will compare and contrast the characteristics and adaptations of organisms in different ecosystems. You can write your outcomes using verbs that describe observable and assessable behaviors, such as compare, explain, or create.

4 Align your content and resources

The fourth step is to align your content and resources with your goals and outcomes. Content is the information and concepts that you want your students to learn and understand. Resources are the materials and tools that you use to deliver and support your content, such as textbooks, videos, or websites. You need to select and organize your content and resources in a way that supports your goals and outcomes and engages your students. You can use a variety of strategies, such as thematic units, project-based learning, or differentiated instruction, to make your content and resources relevant and meaningful.

5 Align your activities and assessments

The fifth step is to align your activities and assessments with your goals and outcomes. Activities are the tasks and experiences that you design for your students to practice and apply their learning. Assessments are the methods and tools that you use to measure and monitor your students' progress and achievement. You need to design and sequence your activities and assessments in a way that supports your goals and outcomes and challenges your students. You can use a variety of strategies, such as formative and summative assessments, rubrics, or portfolios, to make your activities and assessments authentic and rigorous.

6 Evaluate and revise your plan

The final step is to evaluate and revise your plan based on feedback and data. Evaluation is the process of collecting and analyzing information about your curriculum design and its impact on student learning. Revision is the process of making changes and improvements to your curriculum design based on the evaluation results. You need to evaluate and revise your plan regularly and systematically to ensure that it meets your goals and outcomes and responds to your students' needs and interests. You can use a variety of strategies, such as surveys, reflections, or action research, to make your evaluation and revision effective and meaningful.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?