Reimagining Backwards Design with Agile

How Agile Classrooms Brings Each Step to Life Through Iteration, Visibility, and Student Voice

Backwards Design is a go-to strategy for many teachers. You start with the end in mind: define learning goals, determine evidence of success, and plan backwards from there. But even with this clarity, plans often get stuck.

Students don’t always progress linearly. Projects evolve. Engagement drops. And traditional plans rarely keep up.

That’s where Agile Classrooms comes in.

Agile Classrooms doesn’t replace Backwards Design—it amplifies it and integrates it.

Instead of static unit plans, Agile uses Learning Sprints: short cycles that organize learning around student-visible goals, participation, and adaptability.

Let’s explore how Agile Classrooms brings each step of Backwards Design to life through two core routines: Refinement and Planning.

Step 1: Define the Learning Goals—Refining the Learning Backlog

In Backwards Design, the first step is defining what students should know or be able to do. In Agile Classrooms, we call this the Learning Backlog.

Think of it as a dynamic playlist of learning goals. Not fixed. Not rigid. Continuously refined.

During the Refinement Routine, teachers and students:

• Clarify and break down goals

• Prioritize what's most important now

• Make learning visible for everyone

Example: A goal like "Design an experiment" becomes a backlog of specific, doable steps:

• Formulate a hypothesis

• Define variables

• Record observations

Each goal is mapped to planning horizons like Next, Soon, or Later—making it easier to adapt as students progress.

🔗 Refinement Routine Guide

Step 2: Determine Evidence of Learning—Adding Success Criteria

Once goals are clear, the next step is defining how students will demonstrate success.

In Agile Classrooms, every goal in the Learning Backlog includes Success Criteria, co-created with students during Refinement.

Example: For "Formulate a Hypothesis," success looks like:

• Clear

• Testable

• Predicts an outcome

Students know what "done" looks like. And more importantly, they help define it.

This builds accountability and boosts clarity without adding control.

Agile Classrooms also integrates evidence of learning throughout the Sprint, not just at the end. Check-ins, Reviews, and Retrospectives all provide valuable moments to reflect on progress, gather feedback, and adapt learning strategies. These informal assessments help teachers and students stay aligned and adjust as needed—beyond just grades.

Step 3: Plan the Learning—Using the Planning Routine and Learning Canvas

Once we know what we want to achieve and what evidence we need to assess, it's time to plan the path.

Agile Classrooms uses the Planning Routine to translate each goal into manageable, visible actions.

Educators can even anchor each Learning Sprint around an enduring understanding—a big idea that guides the unit.We call this the Learning Sprint Goal, it gives students purpose, direction, and a reason to care.

Let’s take the same example: "Formulate a Hypothesis."

In Planning, students:

• Identify parts of a hypothesis

• Brainstorm ideas

• Draft and refine their hypothesis

• Review with peers using the success criteria

The Learning Canvas maps these tasks visually, so students can track what they’re working on, what’s next, and how their work connects to learning goals.

🔗 Planning Protocol
🔗 Agile Learning Canvas

How Agile Classrooms Enhances Backwards Design

Agile Classrooms strengthens the foundation of Backwards Design with four core principles:

1. Iterative Learning

Students work in short sprints, constantly reflecting and adapting.

2. Incremental Steps

Big goals become small wins. Students see progress and stay motivated.

3. Participative Involvement

Using the Spectrum of Choice, students gain more autonomy over time.

🔗 Spectrum of Choice Infographic

4. Visualization

The Learning Canvas, Planning Routine, and the Learning Backlog make learning paths visible.

Try It in Your Classroom

Want to make Backwards Design more participative and adaptable? Explore our full set of Agile for Educators resources to see how teachers are applying these tools in real classrooms.

Start with these two routines:

• Refinement Guide

• Planning Protocol

Ready to go deeper?

👉 Join an ACT Workshop to get certified and bring Agile Classrooms to life in your school.

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