Teach for Transfer: Using Backwards Curriculum Design to Foster
Student Understanding
By Alana Newell, PhD
We are excited to welcome Dr. Alana Newell, Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, who will present Teach for Transfer: Using Backwards Curriculum Design to Foster Student Understanding. The session will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT, for the second week of the IAMSE 2026 Spring Webcast Audio Seminar Series titled “‘Tough But Fair’ Standards with Support: Empowering Success.”
This series is tailored for medical educators, particularly those teaching in the pre-clerkship curriculum. We’ll explore how to set ambitious, yet achievable, standards for your students, fostering the rigorous foundation future physicians need. Beyond just raising the bar, this series provides you with practical strategies to ensure your students not only meet these high expectations, but truly excel. Discover how to balance a demanding curriculum with the essential guidance that empowers the next generation of medical professionals.
The full IAMSE Spring WAS schedule can be found on the website.
Below we look at the second week’s presentation:
Alana Newell, PhD
Teach for Transfer: Using Backwards Curriculum Design to Foster
Student Understanding
Presenter: Alana Newell, Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
Session Date & Time: March 12, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT
Session Description: It can be difficult for faculty to create aligned learning outcomes, assessments, and instruction that promote learners’ deep understanding and ability to transfer knowledge to real world contexts. The Understanding by Design (UbD) framework offers a structured, backward approach to curriculum design that begins by defining big ideas and measurable outcomes, then moves to the development of authentic assessments and active instructional approaches. This session provides practical tips to help educators apply UbD in their own courses, including strategies for writing outcomes, designing performance-based assessments, and fostering learner-centered experiences. Participants will gain actionable skills to enhance curriculum planning and improve student engagement and competency development.
As always, IAMSE Student Members and Trainees can register for the series for FREE!
If you are an IAMSE student member or trainee, please contact support@iamse.org for information about registering at no cost.