ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

Lifeworthy learning

Enduring understanding

A way of answering the question of what overall concepts we want students to understand

Statements summarising important ideas and core processes central to a discipline having lasting value beyond school

They synthesise what students should understand, not just know or do, as a result of learning in a content area

Highlight what students should revisit over the course of their lifetimes

Help to make sense of big ideas in content areas

May be transferable into other areas

Clarify areas of the curriculum where students may struggle to gain understanding

Clarify any misconceptions that could arise in a content area

They are declarative statements about the subject

FOR

Literature allows us to see how others view the world.

Understanding language conventions helps us to communicate more effectively.

Probability can be used to make decisions, predictions, or choices.

Conflict and cooperation shape and transform societies and cultures.

There are observable, predictable patterns of movement in the Sun and Earth systems that account for day and night

Great artists often break with established traditions, conventions and techniques to better express what they see and feel. A confident free society willingly tolerates the turmoil that unorthodox art may cause.

The topography, climate, and natural resources of a region influence the culture, economy and lifestyle of its inhabitants.

Correlation does not mean or ensure causality.

Key focus areas

Consider.....

• concepts
• themes
• issues/debates/problems
• theories/paradoxes/challenges
• assumptions/misunderstandings

What enduring understandings are

skills related

Not about what a student can do e.g 'Be able to write a text response essay.'

Closed

It should not have a right or wrong answer e.g. Does war help us to solve political problems?

Narrow

Questions to be answered

Not too specific e.g. Understanding interest rates helps us to organise our mortgages.

over to you......

Try to create an enduring understanding statement for a unit you are currently teaching or would be teaching soon.

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