New Bedford ECHO Project - ECHO programs amplify educational benefits, foster greater appreciation of local and national history and the natural environment, and assist communities in maximizing the social benefits of new technologies.

ECHO programs amplify educational benefits, foster greater appreciation of local and national history and the natural environment, and assist communities in maximizing the social benefits of new technologies.

Curricula \| More Information Understanding By Design Research Based Curriculum that Begins with the End in Mind Recognizing that planning research-based curriculum is challenging, even for the most experienced teachers, the COA staff turned to the experts, Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins, the creators of the Understanding by Design (UbD) model of curriculum development (sometimes referred to as Backward Design). UbD is an approach to curriculum that engages students in exploring Enduring Understandings (big ideas that go beyond the classroom) and Essential Questions that are controversial, thought-provoking, and have no right or wrong answers. Backward Design is unique in that it asks curriculum planners to begin by identifying the desired outcomes and then to work backwards to develop learning experiences that will bring students to those outcomes. UbD consists of three stages: Stage 1 Identify the Desired Results: What should students know, understand, and be able to do? What are the Enduring Understandings, Essential Questions, and specific knowledge and skills that will be studied? Stage 2 Determine Acceptable Evidence: How will we know that students understand the big ideas and content standards (multiple, ongoing, and final assessment)? Stage 3 Plan the Learning Experiences (LE): What will need to be taught to equip students to demonstrate acceptable evidence of their understanding? The COA curricula and professional development are shaped by Understanding by Design.

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What is ECHO?

ECHO is an educational and cultural enrichment initiative, annually serving thousands of children and adults in Alaska, Hawaii and Massachusetts. Established by Congress as part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, ECHO brings innovative programs collaboratively produced by the regional cultural institutions to culturally diverse audiences. Read More