Design with intention: operationalizing backward design in surgical education

Abstract Purpose Backward design (BD) is a curriculum planning framework that has gained popularity in health professions but has yet to gain significant attention in surgical education. This manuscript illustrates practical applications of BD in surgical education. Methods The three phases of BD are described. The framework begins with determining learning goals, then planning assessment of understanding, and culminating in creation of learning activities. Two example use cases from our department of surgery are described to illustrate the framework’s utility and versatility. Results In the provided examples, BD was used to plan a faculty development workshop and a simulation curriculum. The framework was easy to use and ensured alignment of educational activities with learner-centered outcomes. Conclusions BD is a simple and effective framework for curriculum design that can be deployed across a variety of settings within surgical education.