Success Begins with Effective Design

“Success Begins with Effective Design”, written by Gene Bias, is a well-written article about developing engaging projects that meet curriculum standards and require higher-order thinking skills. The focus of the article is on project-based learning and its benefits. Although it is never mentioned in the article, much of what Bias’ writes about is quite similar to the backwards design process. Bias’ suggests that learning goals are established, followed by the writing of an essential question. Developing the assessment is step four, which is where Bias differs from UBD principles. From what I read, the article is not limited to any grade level or group of students. It is written in a manner that offers tips and suggestions to all groups of learners. The focus of the article is on well-designed technology lessons, although his process could easily be adapted to a broader audience. I found the article to be quite reliable. The journal it is printed in is put out by Tech4Learning, a software company with a great reputation. Mr. Bias is technology teacher who has spent many years refining the project-based learning process. I enjoyed reading the article and gaining a slightly different perspective to the UBD process, which I am quite familiar with. It offered some great ideas for planning an effective technology lesson, many of which I plan to implement.

Bias, Gene. (2007). Success Begins with Effective Design. Creative Educator, 1, 1, 7-9.