Final answer:
The Understanding by Design framework prioritizes 'Desired results' as the first consideration in planning curriculum, which involves setting learning outcomes before determining assessment methods or learning activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Understanding by Design (UbD) curricular approach, the first consideration is focusing on Desired results. This framework prioritizes defining the learning outcomes and understanding what instructors want students to achieve by the end of the instructional period before planning the assessment methods or learning activities. An essential element of UbD is to create a coherent alignment between learning outcomes, assessment, and instructional activities, so that each aspect supports and reinforces the others, ensuring that students develop critical thinking and analytical abilities for a genuine understanding of the concepts at hand.
Assessment methods, such as Practice problems and Performance tasks, are utilized to validate that students have met the desired results. It's important to employ a variety of assessments to allow students to demonstrate their understanding in multiple contexts, confirming that their learning is both deep and transferable. This educational framework is developed to help students structure their learning and achieve the set learning objectives, as outlined at the beginning of each section or chapter, which are designed to be measurable and reflect current teaching practices.