Our Curriculum
The Canadian International Curriculum (CIC) underpins our entire school curriculum from Early Years until Secondary School
What is Understanding by Design?
We utilize the framework, Understanding by Design (UbD) which focuses on a child’s understanding of a topic rather than their ability to memorize information.
U-Can students benefit from the UbD as it:
. unifies the students’ learning
. encourages skill building
. builds on prior knowledge and experiences
. reflects the real world
. matches the way students think
The UbD framework helps focus curriculum and teaching on the development and deepening of student understanding and transfer of learning (i.e., the ability to effectively use content knowledge and skill)
Understanding is revealed when students autonomously make sense of and transfer their learning through authentic performance. Six facets of understanding the capacity to explain, interpret, apply, shift perspective, empathize, and self assess can serve as indicators of understanding.
Teachers are coaches of understanding, not mere purveyors of content knowledge, skill, or activity. They focus on ensuring that learning happens, not just teaching (and assuming that what was taught was learned); they always aim and check for successful meaning making and transfer by the learner.