What does the concept of "backward design" in assessment involve?

Backward design is an instructional planning approach that prioritizes the creation of assessments aligned with desired learning outcomes before planning instructional activities. This method starts with the end goals—what students should understand or be able to do by the end of a unit or course— and then works backwards to determine how to assess those outcomes effectively.

By beginning with the end in mind, educators ensure that assessments directly measure students' achievement of the specified learning objectives. This approach promotes alignment between the assessment and the teaching strategies employed, ultimately fostering a more focused and purposeful learning experience. It places an emphasis on assessing student understanding and mastery of concepts rather than merely covering content or completing lessons.

The alternative choices do not encapsulate the core principle of backward design. Planning instructional activities before assessments does not ensure that the activities are aimed at achieving specific learning goals. A focus on teaching methods without aligning them with assessment outcomes can lead to disjointed or ineffective instruction. Lastly, concentrating solely on content delivery misses the critical aspect of evaluating whether students attain the learning objectives, which is central to the backward design philosophy.