KUDs and Scales: Over the last several years, "Backwards design" strategies have dominated curriculum planning (at least here at cvu). The benefit of backwards design is that, when planning courses, units, or activities, 'the end result' is defined first, ensuring that the programming is developed with a clear and meaningful purpose. However, the act of designing a unit with a clear end goal does not necessarily mean that the students will understand what they must accomplish, or why. So: the purpose, the task, the standards/ targets must be clearly articulated in order for students to be able to take ownership of their learning. In Switch, by Chip and dan heath, the authors summarize this philosophy nicely: "what looks like resistance is often lack of clarity. so provide crystal-clear direction" (17). Unit/ course KUDs and clear, transferable targets are the basis of this act of articulation. For me, the challenge has been to use language that is clear and accessible to students.