Blog Post #2

Response to Yuyang’s Blog #2

Blog #2: Understanding Learning through UbD and SOLO

Hi Yuyang, I really enjoyed reading your post, especially how you connected UbD with your personal experience in learning programming—it felt super relatable. I also liked how you explained that “starting with the end in mind” helps give learning a real purpose instead of just memorizing code. Your point about empathy in Design Thinking really stood out to me, too, because I’ve noticed that understanding teammates’ challenges can make group work smoother and more meaningful. The way you tied UbD and Design Thinking together shows how good learning design can be both structured and human-centred. It reminded me that effective projects aren’t just about finishing tasks but about learning through collaboration and reflection.

Response to Kariman Hamad’s Blog #2

Blog Post #2

I liked how you connected your real-world co-op experience with the ideas of UbD and Design Thinking—it made the theory feel so practical and alive. Your example about designing a training app showed such a clear link between empathy and problem-solving, which is exactly what Design Thinking is about. I also appreciated how you explained SOLO in the context of deeper learning, not just checking boxes. It reminded me of my own experiences in programming courses where I didn’t truly understand the material until I applied it in a project. I think your reflection perfectly shows how good learning design connects theory and practice, and I totally agree that sometimes feeling uncertain in a project is actually a sign that real learning is happening.

Response to Larissa Baloran’s Blog #2

Blog Post #2

Your post caught my attention right away because the way you linked UbD and Design Thinking to your microbiology labs felt so authentic and practical. I liked how you showed that knowing the end goal helped you understand why each technique mattered—it’s such a clear example of backward design in action. The part about empathy and iteration in lab experiments was also great; it shows how Design Thinking isn’t just for creative fields but also fits perfectly in scientific learning. Your Bloom’s taxonomy example with Gram staining really helped me visualize the shift from memorizing to analyzing and creating. Overall, your reflection made me think more about how intentional design can make even technical subjects more meaningful.