Curriculum Leadership Academy - 2014

Dr. Jay McTighe

Jay McTighe brings a wealth of experience developed during a rich and varied career in education. He served as director of the Maryland Assessment Consortium, a state collaboration of school districts working together to develop and share formative performance assessments.  Prior to this position, Jay was involved with school improvement projects at the Maryland State Department of Education where he helped lead Maryland's standards-based reforms, including the development of performance-based statewide assessments. He also directed the development of the Instructional Framework, a multimedia database on teaching. Well known for his work with thinking skills, Jay has coordinated statewide efforts to develop instructional strategies, curriculum models, and assessment procedures for improving the quality of student thinking. In addition to his work at the state level, Jay has experience at the district level in Prince George’s County, Maryland, as a classroom teacher, resource specialist, and program coordinator. He also directed a state residential enrichment program for gifted and talented students. Jay is an accomplished author, having co-authored 11 books, including the award-winning and best-selling Understanding by Design series with Grant Wiggins. His books have been translated into five languages.

8:45 – 12:00:  Conference Presentation

Featuring Dr. Jay McTighe

• Review a 3-stage “backward design” model and template for use in curriculum development;

• Learn three processes for “unpacking” standards to establish curriculum priorities and determine content worthy of deep understanding;

• Examine long-term transfer goals as end points for backward design;

• Use Essential Questions to frame curriculum to focus on “big ideas”;

12:00 – 1:00:  Enjoy a buffet luncheon and time to network with colleagues and friends

1:00 – 3:30:  Conference Presentation continues

• Design performances tasks to assess student growth on the CCSS;

• Apply the A.M.T. framework to design engaging and effective instruction;

• Review a collection of excellent, supportive websites to support standards-based curriculum design.