Check out this video on how WHERE Plan format is used at Ekya to design classroom lessons as well as the benefits of the format. Find below free resources as a bonus!
Breakdown of The Where Plan Format
In this video, we will explore how to put Understanding by Design (UbD) Framework into action.
UbD is a framework for designing effective learning experiences. If you’d like to learn more about its principles, check out our other video.
Today, we’ll focus on applying UbD in daily classroom teaching.
How We Apply UbD at Ekya
At Ekya, we implement UbD through the WHERE Plan Format—a structured lesson planning approach that ensures well-designed classroom experiences. This format integrates:
- Knowledge, skills, and attitudes
- Engagement activities
- Classroom instruction
- Practice assignments
Let’s break down each stage of the WHERE Plan Format.
The WHERE Plan Format in Detail
-
W – Where are we headed?
- The teacher communicates the learning goal and how it connects to real-world applications.
- This stage establishes the relevance of the lesson and provides clarity on the learning objectives.
-
H – Hook
- This stage captures students’ curiosity through engaging activities, thought-provoking questions, or games.
- The goal is to create excitement and readiness to learn.
-
E – Equip
- Here, students explore and experience key concepts through various activities.
- This could involve think-pair-share discussions, group activities, or guided instruction to deepen understanding.
-
R – Reflect & Refine
- After the key learning experience, students reflect on their understanding and refine their thinking.
- Teachers can conduct checks for understanding at this stage.
-
E – Evaluate
- Finally, students assess how much they have learned.
- This may include self-evaluation, formative assessments, or summative tasks to measure learning outcomes.
Examples of the WHERE Plan in Action
-
Hook Example:
Students play a game, which leads to an introduction about trade in historical times. -
Equip Example:
In a science lesson, students investigate different organisms and note common traits, leading to a proposed list of essential characteristics of living organisms. -
Reflect Example:
After studying World War II, students use the “I Used to Think, Now I Know” reflection tool to document how their understanding has evolved.
At Ekya, we use the WHERE Plan Format to align with UbD principles, ensuring that learning experiences are engaging, meaningful, and outcome-driven.
We encourage you to try incorporating some of these strategies into your own teaching!
Benefits of the WHERE Plan format
- Clear Learning Pathway – Students understand where they are headed, making learning purposeful and goal-oriented.
- Engaging and Motivating – The Hook phase sparks curiosity and increases student engagement.
- Active Learning – The Equip stage ensures students explore concepts through interactive methods, fostering deeper understanding.
- Reflection and Metacognition – The Reflect phase allows students to think critically about their learning progress.
- Assessment and Self-Evaluation – The Evaluation step helps both teachers and students measure learning outcomes effectively.
- Real-World Relevance – By linking learning to real-world contexts, students find meaning in their studies.
- Versatile Across Subjects – Can be applied in all subjects, ensuring consistency in lesson planning and execution.
- Encourages Student Agency – Enables students to take ownership of their learning journey.