Curriculum writing is a research-driven discipline. The most effective curriculum anchors goals, assessments, and instructional phases in cognitive science, science of reading, cognitive load theory, backward design, and text complexity studies. Following the principles of Understanding by Design, curriculum development defines the intellectual work students must do before planning instructional activities.

Our sessions show not just what to design, but why it works and how to design it well. Teams learn to design curriculum from the inside out: first clarifying what meaningful learning looks like by studying the science behind instructional design. Then the team writes assessments and instructional sequences that support effective learning. With shared frameworks and design tools, teams become designers and engineers of learning experiences that are precise, aligned, and ensure learning gains. They use high-quality rubrics and research-aligned frameworks to write coherent, rigorous units.