In our Understanding by Design assignment this week, I really enjoyed reading about the Six Facets of Understanding. I think it really helped to solidify my own understanding of what "understanding" is by adding these facets to my definition. I think it takes experience in LEARNING in order to successfully function under all six facets of understanding, but the knowledge of the six facets can help instructors design curriculum that challenges learners to the appropriate level.
As we are starting to design our own unit, I feel that identify my Essential Questions was pretty clear. The aspect of our final project that I am still a little apprehensive about is going cross-curricular. I fear that attempting to integrate math, science, language arts, and social studies may result in a unit that seems a little activity-oriented. If one of the four curricula is not truly needed to answer essential questions or meet a standard, is it truly worth designing a learning experience that incorporates it? Should we really integrate for the sake of integration?
As we are starting to design our own unit, I feel that identify my Essential Questions was pretty clear. The aspect of our final project that I am still a little apprehensive about is going cross-curricular. I fear that attempting to integrate math, science, language arts, and social studies may result in a unit that seems a little activity-oriented. If one of the four curricula is not truly needed to answer essential questions or meet a standard, is it truly worth designing a learning experience that incorporates it? Should we really integrate for the sake of integration?