What is a big idea? Good question! We have argued over the years that a big idea is any concept, theory, principle, or theme that helps learners make sense of a subject. 'Follow the money' is a big idea in politics. 'The American dream' is a theme useful for undestanding complicated literature, etc. Then, why do designers and teachers get soconfused about this term? Let's ponder it.
Talent is Overrated is the title of a fascinating book by Geoff Colvin. Like Malcolm Gladwell's The Outliers, it makes you completely rethink what you thought you knew about learning and achievement.
Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe write in their Educational Leadership article about how to reform school by acknowledging that we have three different types of learning goals: Acquisition, Meaning Making and Transfer. To Put Understanding First is to realize that too much teaching focuses only on (short-term) acquisition of knowledge and skill instead of (long-term) understanding.
An idea is “big” if it helps us make sense of lots of confusing experiences and seemingly isolated facts. It’s like the picture that connects the dots or a simple rule of thumb in a complex field.
Upcoming Workshops in Lambertville, NJ
Summer Institutes 2010
2nd week of July: Leading Curriculum & Assessment Reform
3rd week of July: Intro to UbD
4th week of July: Feedback
4th week of July: Working with the NJ Standards
Interested in more information
about our upcoming workshops? Email us or call (609)466-8080.
