Workshop Overview

During the workshop, participants will engage deeply with the Wiggins & McTighe’s Backward by Design to create focused, evidence-based lesson plans that promote meaningful, inquiry-driven learning. We will begin by identifying essential content and big ideas, then practice crafting generalizations to clarify enduring understandings that transcend specific topics and promote transfer of learning.

Next, we will explore how to design authentic assessments that move beyond recall to truly measure student understanding, skills, and conceptual growth.

Throughout the workshop, the emphasis will be on achieving alignment between learning goals, assessments, and instructional strategies. Drawing on inquiry-based pedagogy, participants will design learning experiences that foster curiosity, agency, and deep thinking. Collaborative protocols, planning tools, and real-world examples will support participants in ensuring coherence, relevance, and student engagement.

Facilitator:

Eryn Wiseman

Eryn is an enthusiastic and inspiring PYP educator and workshop leader with a thorough knowledge of the IB Primary Years Programme, the Montessori approach, inquiry-based learning and concept-based curriculum and instruction. In her professional life, she has worked in national and international schools in Europe and International Baccalaureate as Associate Regional Manager. With an interest in blogging and writing, she recently co-authored a book titled ‘Teaching and Learning in International Schools’, a practical and accessible book of effective pedagogy and practice for international educators.