The highly anticipated second edition of Understanding by Design
poses the core, essential questions of understanding and design,
and provides readers with practical solutions for the teacher-
designer. The book opens by analyzing the logic of backward
design as an alternative to coverage and activity-oriented
plans. Though backward from habit, this approach brings more
focus and coherence to instruction. The book proposes a
multifaceted approach, with the six “facets” of understanding.
The facets combine with backward design to provide a powerful,
expanded array of practical tools and strategies for designing
curriculum, instruction, and assessments that lead students at
all grade levels to genuine understanding. The second edition, a
refined work, has been thoroughly and extensively revised,
updated, and expanded, including improvement of the UbD
Template, the key terms of UbD, dozens of worksheets, and some
of the larger concepts. The authors have successfully put
together a text that demonstrates what best